Etymologically
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obvius

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔb.wi.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔb.vi.us][1]

Forms

obvius (feminine obvia, neuter obvium); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is formed from ob- and via “way”, with the ending -us.[2][3][4] The TLL derives it from the adverb obviam “in the way, to meet”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius, in the Annals, writes of javelins blunted by meeting javelins, and Cato of an army sent against a leader.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant in the path, so as to meet, as Sallust's king's officers coming to meet, and Cicero says a man had no expectation of meeting him.[2][7] It meant placed so as to confront an enemy, lying in the path as an obstacle, as Lucretius' atoms colliding, and moving against.[2] It meant presenting itself to the eyes or mind, as in Virgil, exposed to attack, and ready to hand, as Livy's weapons that chance had put in reach.[2][1] Of words it meant commonplace, in Quintilian, and of people easy of access, as Pliny's friend open and full of kindness.[2]

In medieval Latin it meant meeting, and obvium habēre was to meet.[8] English obvious is recorded in the 1580s as “frequently met with”.[9]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of javelins meeting.[2][6]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of an army sent to confront.[2][6]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of what meets the eye.[2][6]
  • 1580s – English obvious is recorded.[9]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. In the way, meeting, going to meet.[2][3]
  2. Confronting; standing in the way.[2]
  3. Presenting itself, obvious.[2][1]
  4. Exposed, open to attack.[2][1]
  5. Ready to hand; commonplace.[2]
  6. Of persons, affable, easy of access.[2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com