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oboedio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word oboedio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (audiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɔˈboe̯.di.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [oˈbɛː.di.o][1]

Forms

oboediō (present infinitive oboedīre, perfect active oboedīvī or oboediī, supine oboedītum); fourth conjugation[1] Afranius has the future oboedībō.[2]

Etymology

It is from ob- and audiō “to hear”, through ⟨*obawizdijō⟩.[2][1] Wiktionary notes that ⟨ob⟩ + ⟨audīre⟩ would be expected to give ⟨*obūdiō⟩, and suggests the ⟨oe⟩ is a false archaism encouraged by the word's use in the law courts.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of obeying.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to listen, pay attention, as in Nepos, and in Plautus to obey, submit to persons, commands or laws.[2] In Cicero it meant to act as a situation demands, and to be a slave to a vice.[2] Döderlein explains that pārēre is the obedience of a servant to his master, while oboedīre is the freer obedience of an inferior to a superior, a citizen to the law.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to obey, heed.[5] Through Old French obeir it gave English obey about 1300.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of obeying.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of being a slave to vice.[2][3]
  • c. 1300 – English obey is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To listen, pay attention.[2]
  2. To obey, submit to.[2]
  3. To be a slave to.[2]

Word family

  • inoboediō
  • inoboedus
  • oboedientia
  • oboedītiō
  • oboediēns

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from pāreō.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Oboedio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/oboedio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·