Etymologically
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metior

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmeː.ti.ɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛt.t͡si.or][1]

Forms

mētior (present infinitive mētīrī, perfect active mēnsus sum or mētītus sum); fourth conjugation, deponent[1] The participle is mēnsus, later mētītus.[2][3]

Etymology

It is a denominal verb from Proto-Italic *mēti- (“measurement”), from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-ti- (“measurement”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *meh₁- (“to measure”).[2][1] The participle mēnsus must be analogical, after the participle of pendō, as Sommer explains.[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek μῆτις (mêtis, “wisdom, skill”), Old English mǣþ (“measure”) and Sanskrit मिमीते (mímīte, “measures”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to measure, as Cicero's measuring of the sun, and to measure out or distribute, as Caesar's measuring out grain to the soldiers.[3][5] It was to mark off a line, area or period, to pace or traverse, and with oculīs to look someone up and down.[3] Figuratively it was to estimate or judge.[3][1] Döderlein contrasts it, measuring a space, with mētor, marking its bounds.[6]

Its participle gave mēnsūra, the source of English measure, and immēnsus “immeasurable”.[7][2] It survives as Spanish medir.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar measures out grain to the soldiers.[5][4]
  • c. 1300 – English measure is recorded as “instrument for measuring”.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To measure.[3][8]
  2. To measure out, distribute, mete out.[5][1]
  3. To mark off (an area, a period).[3]
  4. To pace, traverse.[3][1]
  5. Mētīrī oculīs, to look up and down.[3]
  6. To estimate, judge.[3][1]

Word family

  • admētior
  • commētior
  • dēmētior
  • dimētior
  • ēmētior
  • immēnsus
  • mēnsor
  • mēnsōrius
  • mēnsūra
  • mēnsus
  • permētior

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  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
  8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press