Etymologically
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novo

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈnɔ.woː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈnɔː.vo][1]

Forms

novō (present infinitive novāre, perfect active novāvī, supine novātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin novus (“new”) + -ō.[2][1] Wiktionary takes it back to Proto-Italic *nowāō and a factitive Proto-Indo-European *néweh₂ti (“makes new”).[1] De Vaan traces novus to *nowo- and *neuo- (“new, young”).[3] The verb has an exact counterpart in Hittite nēu̯ahh-i (“to renew”), and Ancient Greek νεάω (neáō, “to plough fallow land”) is a parallel formation from the same adjective.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first examples in the OLD are in Lucretius, of the earth warmed by the sun renewing its offspring and of the sum of things always being renewed.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means to make or devise something new, as Cicero's newly coined word, and to renew by replacing, replenish.[2][4] It also means to exchange for something different, as Virgil's Fortune changing her faith, and in law to replace an obligation by a new one by stipulation.[2] It is to alter, give a new form to, and res novare is to make changes in the state, usually revolutionary ones.[2][4] Other senses are to restore as new, revive or refresh, as Cicero's mind refreshed by laughter, and to resume or renew an activity or a feeling, as Livy's renewed shout.[2][4] English novate (1610s) is from its participle.[5]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the earth renewing its offspring.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of newly coined words and of a mind refreshed.[2][6]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil of Fortune changing her faith, and res novare.[2][6]
  • 140–180 AD – Gaius of replacing an obligation.[2][6]
  • 1610s – English novate.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To make new, devise; to coin a word.[2][4][1]
  2. To renew, replace with another of the same kind; to replenish.[2][1]
  3. To exchange;[2] (law) to replace an obligation by a new one.[2]
  4. To alter;[2][4][1] res novare, to make political changes, start a revolution.[2][4][1]
  5. To restore, revive, refresh.[2][4][1]
  6. To resume, renew an activity or feeling.[2]

Word family

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 m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b 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 e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de