polliceor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [pɔlˈlɪ.ke.ɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [polˈliː.t͡ʃe.or]^[1]

Forms

polliceor (present infinitive pollicērī, perfect active pollicitus sum); second conjugation, deponent^[1] Varro has the active form pollicērēs.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from the prefix por- “forth” and liceor “to bid at an auction”, so “to bid forth”.^[2][1][3] Lewis & Short compare the prefix with Greek ⟨πορτί⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a bid at an auction and of a promise.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was to offer, bid at an auction, then to promise, as in Plautus.^[2] In Cicero it meant to assure, guarantee something about the future, and in Celsus things “promise”, lead one to expect.^[2] Ennius uses it in a passive sense, to be promised.^[2]

Its frequentative pollicitor and the noun pollicitātiō “promise” belong with it.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of bidding and promising.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a guarantee.^[2][4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of things that promise.^[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To offer, bid (at an auction).^[2]
2. To promise.^[2]
3. To guarantee.^[2]
4. (of things) To lead one to expect.^[2]

Related words

• pollicitātiō
• pollicitātor
• pollicitātrix
• pollicitor
• pollicitum
• liceor
• prōmittō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de