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miror

Etymology and origin of the Latin word miror

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*smei-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmiː.rɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.ror][1]

Forms

mīror (present infinitive mīrārī or mīrārier, perfect active mīrātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is a verb formed from mīrus “remarkable, astonishing”.[2][1] Mīrus is *smeiro-, from Proto-Indo-European *sméi-ro- (“laughter”), related to Proto-Indo-European *(s)mei- (“to laugh, smile”); de Vaan notes that some doubt the change of meaning from “laughing” to “remarkable”.[3][1] An active mīrō is found in Pomponius and Varro.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has “what sort of a sally is this? I can't wonder enough”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to be surprised or bewildered, and to be surprised at a fact.[2] It meant to look at a person or thing with wonder, as Virgil's Tyrians marvelling at Aeneas' gifts, and to admire or revere, as Cicero's things most men admire, power and office.[2]

Romance kept it with the sense “to look at”, as Spanish mirar and French mirer.[1] English mirage comes from the French verb se mirer “to be reflected”.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of wonder.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of surprise and of admiration.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of marvelling at gifts.[2][4]
  • 1800 – English mirage is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be surprised, wonder.[2][1]
  2. To be surprised at.[2][1]
  3. To look at with wonder, marvel at.[2][1]
  4. To admire, revere.[2][1]
  • mirus
  • English mirage
  • English mirror

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Miror.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/miror. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·