Etymologically
Log in

irruo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:50. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪr.ru.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈir.ru.o][1]

Forms

irruō (present infinitive irruere, perfect active irruī, supine irrutum); third conjugation[1] It is also spelled inruō.[2]

Etymology

It is from in- “into” and ruō “to rush”.[2][3] De Vaan traces ⟨ruō⟩ “to rush” to Proto-Indo-European *h₃rew- (“to run, hurry”), cognate with Ancient Greek ὀρούω (oroúō, “to rush”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of rushing in.[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to rush or dash in, as in Terence, and to throw oneself on someone with hostile intent, to charge, as in Cicero, who has in mediam aciem irruere “to charge into the middle of the battle line”.[2][6] Lewis & Short give to force one's way in, invade, attack.[3]

Its noun irruptiō gave English irruption.[7]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a charge.[2][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To rush in.[2]
  2. To charge, attack.[2]
  • ruō
  • irrumpō
  • English irruption

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com