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obduco

Etymology and origin of the Latin word obduco

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*dewk-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɔbˈduː.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈduː.ko][1]

Forms

obdūcō (present infinitive obdūcere, perfect active obdūxī, supine obductum); third conjugation, irregular short imperative[1] Accius has the imperative obdūc, and an argument to Plautus the syncopated infinitive obdūxe.[2]

Etymology

It is from ob- “towards, against” and dūcō “to lead”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of leading troops against an enemy.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to lead troops towards or against, as in Ennius, and in Plautus to bring into someone's presence; in Caesar it meant to extend a barrier in front.[2] Lucretius used it for blocking, Lucilius for drawing over as a cover, and Cicero for overlaying a surface and for drinking down, swallowing.[2] Cicero also has posterum diem obdūcere “to bring on the next day”.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to produce.[5]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of troops.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of barriers.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of covering and swallowing.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To lead against.[2]
  2. To extend in front (as a barrier).[2]
  3. To block.[2]
  4. To draw over; to cover.[2]
  5. To swallow.[2]

Word family

  • obductiō
  • obductus
  • superobductus
  • obductō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Obduco.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/obduco. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·