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perhibeo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word perhibeo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*gʰh₁b-)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin habeo
Latin habilis
Latin posthabeo
Latin antehabeo
Latin perhibeo
Latin diribeo
Latin prohibeo
Latin debeo

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɛˈrɪ.be.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [peˈriː.be.o][1]

Forms

perhibeō (present infinitive perhibēre, perfect active perhibuī, supine perhibitum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin per- + habeō (“to have, hold”).[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨habeō⟩ to Proto-Italic *xab-ē- (“has taken, has”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰh₁b- (“to take”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus and Ennius, of representing something as being of a kind, and Cato, of giving.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to present, bestow, afford, as in Cato and Cicero, who uses it of putting someone forward as an agent; to represent in words or thoughts, regard, repute, as in Plautus and Ennius, and especially perhibent “they say”; and to ascribe, attribute, as in Pliny.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to report, bear witness, propose, produce, attribute, bestow.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of repute.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of giving.[2][4]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of ascribing.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To present, bestow, afford, give.[2]
  2. To represent, regard, repute, perhibent, they say.[2]
  3. To ascribe, attribute.[2]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To bear witness.[6]

Word family

  • perhibitus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Perhibeo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/perhibeo. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·