Etymologically
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patior

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpa.ti.ɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpat.t͡si.or][1]

Forms

patior (present infinitive patī, perfect active passus sum); third (-iō variant) conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *pat-i-, of uncertain origin.[2] One proposal links it with Ancient Greek πῆμα (pêma, “suffering”) from *peh₁-mn̥, which would give a base *ph₁-t- and so ⟨pat-⟩, but de Vaan points out that patior cannot be a verb derived from a participle *ph₁-to- or an i-stem *ph₁-ti-, so the formation stays unclear.[2][3] Wiktionary takes it as a verb derived from Proto-Italic *patos.[1] De Vaan also considers the root Proto-Indo-European *pet- (“to fly, fall”), with a sense “it befalls me”, hence “I experience”.[2] The TLL notes that the comparison with Greek πάσχω (páskhō), πένθος (pénthos) had not been explained.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius, who says that mortals must suffer many ills.[2][3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to be subjected to something, to experience or undergo it, to suffer punishment, and in law to be subject to a legal process.[3] It also meant to bear or put up with something, to tolerate, and to allow or permit, as Cicero's nōn patiar “I will not allow it”.[3][6] Döderlein contrasts it with ferō, which looks only at the burden, while patī and tolerō look at the mind of the person who bears it.[7]

In Christian Latin it was used of the passion of Christ and of martyrdom, and in grammar of a passive meaning.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius says mortals must suffer many ills.[3][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses patientia.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of putting up with wrongs and of permitting.[3][9][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To undergo, experience; to suffer (punishment).[3]
  2. (law) To be subject to (a legal process).[3]
  3. To bear, put up with, endure.[3][6]
  4. To allow, permit.[3][9]
  5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To suffer the passion; to suffer martyrdom.[8]

Word family

  • compatior
  • passibilis
  • passiō
  • passus
  • patibilis
  • patiēns
  • perpetior
  • praepatior
  • prōpatior

Usage notes

It is a deponent verb, but Naevius and Cicero's legal language have active forms such as patias and patiuntō.[3][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  9. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.