Etymologically
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obsequor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.sɛ.kʷɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔb.se.kʷor][1]

Forms

obsequor (present infinitive obsequī, perfect active obsecūtus sum or obsequūtus sum); third conjugation, deponent[1] Cato has the imperative obsequitō.[2]

Etymology

It is from ob- and sequor “to follow”.[2][1] De Vaan traces sequor to Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow, accompany”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of following one's inclinations and gratifying others.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

With the dative it meant to follow one's inclinations, to comply with someone's wishes, humour, oblige, and to obey, all in Plautus.[2] Columella used it of things that respond to treatment, and Quintilian of following a movement.[2]

Its noun obsequium and its present participle obsequēns underlie Late Latin obsequiōsus and English obsequious.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 1st century AD – Columella uses it of things.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To comply with, humour, oblige.[2]
  2. To obey.[2]
  3. To be amenable.[2]

Word family

  • inobsequens
  • obsecula
  • obsecutio
  • obsecutor
  • obsequella
  • obsequentia
  • obsequibilis
  • obsequium
  • obsequēns
  • obsequenter
  • obsequiae

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 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com