Etymologically
Log in

instauro

Etymology and origin of the Latin word instauro

History Permalink
Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈstau̯.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈstaːu̯.ro][1]

Forms

īnstaurō (present infinitive īnstaurāre, perfect active īnstaurāvī, supine īnstaurātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from in- and a verb *staurāre, as in restaurō.[2][3] De Vaan derives the base from Proto-Italic *stauro- (“big, strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *sth₂u-ro- (“big, strong”), so that it first meant “to make strong again”; the compound must be recent, or one would expect *instūrāre.[3] Cognate with Sanskrit स्थूर (sthūrá, “big, strong”).[3] Walde–Hofmann compared Ancient Greek σταυρός (staurós, “stake”) and Old Norse staurr (“pole”).[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it.[3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to repeat a ceremony that had been wrongly performed or interrupted, as games and sacrifices, in Cicero and Livy.[2][5] It was to resume or renew an activity, and to restore a thing to its former state, and to set up or make.[2][1][6] Döderlein says it was used of sacred or important institutions, against īnstituō for profane ones.[7]

Ernout and Meillet think restaurō replaced it because the sense “again” was unusual for in-.[3] In Medieval Latin it also meant to provide or store, and through Old French estorer it gave English store.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of repeating a festival.[5][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses restaurāre.[3][4]
  • mid-13th century – English store “to supply” is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To repeat, start afresh (a ceremony).[2][6]
  2. To resume, renew.[2][1]
  3. To restore to its former condition.[2]
  4. To set up, erect, make.[1][6]
  5. (Medieval Latin) To provide, store.[8]

Word family

  • instauraticius
  • īnstaurātiō
  • instaurātīuus
  • instaurātor
  • restaurō
  • stō
  • īnstituō
  • English store
  • English restore

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Instauro.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/instauro. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·