Etymologically
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luctor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫuːk.tɔr], [ˈɫʊk.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈluk.tor][1]

Forms

lū̆ctor (present infinitive lū̆ctārī or lū̆ctārier, perfect active lū̆ctātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is a frequentative verb from Proto-Italic *lukto- (“bent”), Proto-Indo-European *lug-to- (“bent”), the participle of the root Proto-Indo-European *lewg- (“to bend, twist”).[2][1] The OLD compares Ancient Greek λυγίζω (lugízō, “to bend, especially in wrestling”), and Wiktionary luxus “dislocated”.[3][1] Cognate with Ancient Greek λύγος (lúgos, “withy”), Old Irish fo·loing (“supports”) and Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽 (galūkan, “to shut”).[2] De Vaan notes that neither luctor nor luxus shows the vowel lengthening that would be expected.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The active luctāre appears in Ennius, Plautus, Terence and Varro; the deponent is Classical.[3][2] De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose young men trained by running and wrestling.[2][3] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to wrestle, as on Virgil's yellow sand, then to struggle or grapple like a wrestler, also with the forces of nature, and to contend in hostility, as Valerius Maximus' Pompey whose authority struggled with liberty.[3][5] Figuratively it meant to contend with difficulties or against one's feelings, and to strain, struggle to move forward.[3]

It survives in Italian lottare, French lutter and Spanish luchar.[1] English reluctant comes from the compound reluctārī “to struggle against”, recorded in the 1660s.[6]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses the active form.[3][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of wrestling.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[3][4]
  • 1660s – English reluctant is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To wrestle.[3]
  2. To struggle, grapple.[3]
  3. To contend, struggle for supremacy.[3]
  4. (figurative) To struggle with difficulties or one's feelings.[3]
  5. To strain, struggle to move forward.[3]

Word family

  • ēlū̆ctor
  • lū̆cta
  • lū̆ctātiō
  • lū̆ctātor
  • oblū̆ctor
  • relū̆ctor

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com