obsisto

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɔpˈsɪs.toː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈsis.to]^[1]

Forms

obsistō (present infinitive obsistere, perfect active obstitī, supine obstitum); third conjugation, impersonal in the passive^[1] It is also spelled opsistō; its perfect cannot be told apart from that of obstō.^[2]

Etymology

It is from ob- “against” and sistō “to set, stand”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of standing in someone's way.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to place oneself in someone's way, block, obstruct, and to hinder, impede, as in Plautus and Livy.^[2][4] In Lucretius it meant to be a physical barrier, and in Cicero to resist an attack and to stand up against people, policies or forces.^[2] Lewis & Short give adversor and repugnō as synonyms.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][3]
• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a barrier.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of resistance.^[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To stand in the way, obstruct.^[2]
2. To withstand.^[2]
3. To resist, oppose.^[2]
4. To hinder.^[2]

Related words

• sistō
• obstō
• resistō

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 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press