obvolvo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɔbˈwɔɫ.woː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈvɔl.vo]^[1]

Forms

obvolvō (present infinitive obvolvere, perfect active obvolvī, supine obvolūtum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ob- + volvō (“to roll”).^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨volvō⟩ to Proto-Italic *welu-e/o-, from Proto-Indo-European *wel-u- (“to wind”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of muffling up the head.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to cover the head or face completely by wrapping it, muffle up, as in Plautus and Cicero's account of the painter who veiled Agamemnon's head (obvolvendum caput); and in Celsus to wind a bandage over.^[2][5] Lewis & Short give a figurative use, to cloak, disguise, in Horace.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to wrap up, cover all round, muffle.^[6] English obvolve is from it.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of muffling the head.^[2][4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of bandages.^[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To cover the head or face by wrapping it, muffle up.^[2]
2. To wrap or wind a bandage over.^[2]
3. To cloak, disguise.^[5]

Related words

• volvō
• English obvolve

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson