parabolo

Forms

parabolō (present infinitive parabolāre, perfect active parabolāvī, supine parabolātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin parabola (“comparison; speech”), with the verb ending -ō.^[2][3][4] That noun is παραβολή (parabolḗ, “comparison”) in Greek,^[5][3] and in Vulgar Latin it came to mean “word”, “speech”.^[3] The spoken form *paraulō gave Old French parler (“to speak”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is an Early Medieval Latin word.^[1] Köbler finds it in capitularies, church councils, formularies and in Hincmar (9th century), in the senses “to compare”, “to speak” and “to agree”.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Its medieval meanings range from expressing by metaphors to speaking, talking together, conferring, agreeing on something and standing up for one's cause.^[2][4] In British sources it means to parley (ubi Harold et Wido parabolant, “where Harold and Wido confer”, on the Bayeux Tapestry) and, in Wyclif, to tell in a parable.^[6] New Latin used it for “to compare”.^[1]

It is the source of Italian parlare, Old French parler and Catalan and Occitan parlar,^[1][2] and through French of English parley (late 14th century).^[3]

Timeline

• 9th century – Hincmar and the capitularies use it.^[4]
• late 14th century – English parlen “to speak, confer”, from Old French parler.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Medieval Latin) To express by metaphors; to tell in a parable.^[2][6][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) To speak, talk.^[2][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) To talk together, confer, parley; to agree on something.^[2][6][4]
4. (Medieval Latin) To stand up for one's cause.^[2][4]
5. (New Latin) To compare.^[1]

Related words

• English parley

Usage notes

Wiktionary records a separate medieval parabolō “to risk, lack regard for”, from Ancient Greek παραβολεύομαι (paraboleúomai, “to venture, run a risk”), used to gloss a verse of the New Testament.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c 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