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praedico

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [prae̯ˈdiː.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [preˈdiː.ko][1]

Forms

praedīcō (present infinitive praedīcere, perfect active praedīxī, supine praedictum); third conjugation, irregular short imperative[1]

Etymology

It is from prae- “before” and dīcō “to say”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of prescribing beforehand.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Terence it meant to say beforehand, to mention in advance, and to give warning of, foretell.[2] In Naevius it meant to appoint beforehand, prescribe, recommend.[2] Döderlein contrasts dīvīnāre, foreseeing by divine inspiration, with praesāgīre, foreseeing by natural presentiment, and praedīcere, foretelling.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to foretell, predict, prophesy.[6] It survives in Italian predire, French prédire and Spanish predecir, and its participle praedictus is behind English predict, first recorded in the 1620s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of prescribing.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of foretelling.[2][4]
  • 1620s – English predict is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To say beforehand, mention in advance.[2]
  2. To warn of; to foretell, predict.[2]
  3. To prescribe, recommend.[2]

Word family

  • praedictiō
  • praedictīvus
  • praedictum
  • praedictus
  • praecō
  • praecōnium
  • praecōnius
  • praecōnor
  • dīcō
  • English predict
  • English prediction

Usage notes

A separate first-conjugation verb praedicō, praedicāre, from prae- and dicō “to proclaim”, means to proclaim, praise, and in Ecclesiastical Latin to preach; it gave English preach and English predicate.[2][6][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson