iubeo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈjʊ.be.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈjuː.be.o]^[1]

Forms

iubeō (present infinitive iubēre, perfect active iussī, supine iussum); second conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *jouþ-eje/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *Hioudʰ-eie/o- (“to cause to move”), a causative.^[2][1] The oldest form ⟨ioub-⟩, found in early inscriptions, fits this type, and ⟨iub-⟩ was taken from the perfect and participle.^[2][3] Cognate with Ancient Greek ὑσμίνη (husmínē, “battle”) and Lithuanian judėti (“to move”).^[2][3] Lewis and Short suggested *iūs habēre “to regard as right”, an idea not followed by de Vaan.^[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus.^[2] Köbler places his career before 200 BC.^[5] Early inscriptions spell it ioub- and ious-.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to order or tell someone to do something, to order a thing to be done, and to direct, enjoin or appoint.^[3] In the assemblies it was the word for enacting a law, in the formula velītis iubeātis, and for appointing a magistrate; laws, fate and duty were also said to command.^[3] Its participle iussum meant an order.^[3]

Döderlein distinguishes iubēre, bidding by one's own wish, the opposite of vetō, from imperō, commanding with military authority, and praecipiō, enjoining as a teacher.^[6] The stem iuss- gave the grammatical term English jussive (1825).^[7]

Timeline

• before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^[2][5]
• 186 BC – the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus spells it with ou.^[2][3]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has “order the doors to be opened at once”.^[3][5]
• 1825 – English jussive is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To order, tell, bid (someone to do something).^[3]
2. To order (something to be done); to direct (that).^[3]
3. To enjoin; to appoint.^[3]
4. (of an assembly) To enact, decree; to appoint (a magistrate).^[3]
5. (of laws, fate, duty) To prescribe, require.^[3]

Word family

• iussiō
• iussor
• iussum
• iussus
• iniussus
• fidēiubeō

Related words

• English jussive

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com