interius

Forms

interius (adverb; comparative in form)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin interior (“inner”), whose neuter is used as an adverb.^[1][2] Georges also treats it as the comparative of intrā (“within”).^[2] De Vaan derives the comparative from Proto-Italic *ntero- (“interior”) and Proto-Indo-European *h1(e)n-tero- (“situated within”), formed from *h1en (“in”), and compares Sanskrit अन्तर (ántara-, “interior”) and Ancient Greek ἔντερα (éntera, “intestines”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Conte cites it from Cicero (81–43 BC), who advises that a sentence should neither stop too far inside nor run on too long.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It means further in or nearer the centre: Seneca uses it of hiding gold and silver deeper inside and of a tighter turn, Pliny the Elder of the Adriatic lying further in than the Ionian Sea, and Statius of the inmost part of a house.^[1][4] It also means within or inwardly, as when Ovid has the tongue freezing inside against the palate,^[1] and in Velleius and Mela it is used of moving into the interior of a country.^[1][4] Figuratively it means more intimately, of being admitted further into someone's confidence in Seneca, and more deeply, of a god who looks deeper into minds in Martial and of looking closer in Juvenal.^[1][4] British Medieval Latin uses it of land further inland, of the inside of a building or cave, and of what is thought inwardly as against what is done outwardly, as in Bede.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a sentence stopping too far inside.^[4][5]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the inside of the body.^[1][5]
• 43 BC–AD 18 – Ovid uses it for “inside, within”.^[1][5]
• c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius uses it of moving into the interior.^[1][5]
• 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of a god who looks deeper into minds.^[1][5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Further in, nearer the centre; nearer the inside (of a bend).^[1][4]
2. More intimately.^[1]
3. Inside, within; inwardly.^[1][6]
4. Into the interior (of a country), inland.^[1][6]
5. More deeply, more profoundly.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ 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 d e f Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press