parate
Pronunciation
Forms
parātē (comparative parātius, superlative parātissimē, adjective parātus)[1]
Etymology
It is from Latin parātus1 (“prepared, ready”) + -ē.[2][1] parātus1 is the participle of parō (“to prepare”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *parāje/o- and Proto-Indo-European *prh₃-o- (“providing”), most often explained as a verb made from a noun; he compares Ancient Greek ἔπορον (époron, “provided, gave”).[3]
Earliest recorded meaning
Köbler records it first in Plautus,[4] where in the Epidicus one character announces a trick with a crafty lute girl who will fool two old men, and the other exclaims ut parate!, “how well planned!”.[2]
Semantic evolution
In Plautus it means with all precautions taken.[2] Cicero uses it of speaking after due preparation, as in paratius atque accuratius dicere, and of an orator who came to speak more boldly than prepared;[2] Seneca says that one who acts so readily surely acts gladly.[2] From this comes the sense “without hesitation, readily”: Cicero says that men should fight more readily for honour and glory than for other advantages,[2] and Pliny the Younger has the superlative paratissime.[2]
Timeline
- c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a well-laid plan.[2][4]
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of prepared speaking and of readiness to fight.[2][4]
- 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of acting readily.[2][4]
Meanings
Adverb
- With due preparation; with every precaution taken.[2]
- Without hesitation, readily, promptly.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ 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
- ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de