Etymologically
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observans

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Forms

observāns (genitive observantis, comparative observantior, superlative observantissimus); third-declension adjective of one termination[1][2]

Etymology

Used as an adjective, it is the present participle from Latin observō (“to watch, observe”).[1][3] That verb is a compound of ob- and servō (“to watch over, keep”).[1] De Vaan reports Rix's view that the simple verb was made from an old noun Proto-Italic *serwā- or *serwom (“observation”), related to servus, which goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ser-u-o- (“guardian”).[4] Cognate with Avestan haraiti (“heeds, protects”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero is its first author.[3] In the Pro Quinctio he speaks of a relative who is attentive to the man addressed, hominem propinquum, tuī observantem, and in a letter to his brother he promises that he will find someone grateful and attentive, grātum hominem observantemque.[1][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant attentive and respectful towards someone, often with a genitive, as in Cicero's letters (observantissimum studiōsissimumque nostrī) and in Pliny the Younger.[1][2] It also meant scrupulous in carrying out one's duties: Pliny the Younger tells a correspondent that he is omnium officiōrum observantissimus, and Gellius notes that religiōsus came to be used for someone chaste and observant.[1][5] Apuleius uses it of the stars keeping a very exact law in their courses.[1][2]

Church Latin also used it as a masculine noun, Observant.[6] It survives in Italian osservante.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of people attentive to others.[1][3]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of the stars keeping their courses.[1][3]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it to explain religiōsus.[1][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Attentive, respectful (towards someone), often with a genitive.[1][2][5]
  2. Scrupulous, observant in carrying out duties.[1][5]

Noun

  1. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An Observant.[6]

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson