Etymologically
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metus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmɛ.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛː.tus][1]

Forms

metus m (genitive metūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Proto-Italic *metu-, of unknown origin.[2][1][3] Klingenschmitt connects it with Old Irish moth (“astonishment”), which is attractive in meaning, but the sound change is unexplained.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius, who treats it as feminine, like Ennius.[2][4][3] In Plautus someone says “for fear I do not know where I am”.[3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was fear of what may happen, alarm, apprehension, with a genitive fear of something, such as of the rods, and anxiety for someone's safety.[3] It was also dread of a person or thing seen as a danger, and that which causes fear, a threat.[3] Virgil and Cicero personify Metus among the powers at the gate of the underworld and among the children of Night.[5]

In medieval Latin it could also mean intimidation.[6] Its derivative metuō “to fear” and the adjective metīculōsus belong with it, the latter giving English meticulous, first “fearful”, in the 1530s.[7] It survives in Spanish miedo and Portuguese medo.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it as a feminine.[3][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has someone lost for fear.[3][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil names Fear at the gate of the underworld.[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Fear, alarm, apprehension.[3]
  2. Anxiety (for someone's safety).[3]
  3. Dread (of a person or thing).[3]
  4. A cause for alarm, a threat.[3]
  5. Metus, Fear personified.[5]

Word family

Usage notes

Döderlein says that metuere and timēre spring from the danger threatening, while verērī springs from respect, citing Cicero on old Appius, whom his slaves feared and his children respected.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ 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
  7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper