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praefero

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈprae̯.fɛ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɛː.fe.ro][1]

Forms

praeferō (present infinitive praeferre, perfect active praetulī, supine praelātum); third conjugation, suppletive[1] The perfect is praetulī and the participle praelātus.[2]

Etymology

It is from prae- “before, in front” and ferō “to carry”, continuing Proto-Italic ⟨*praiferō⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Caesar, of carrying something in front.[2] Köbler dates Caesar c. 50 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to carry in front, as Cicero's dextrā ardentem facem praeferēbat “she carried a burning torch before her in her right hand”, and in Caesar in the passive to be carried past.[2][5] In Cicero it meant to display in one's appearance or behaviour, and in Caesar to put forward a statement.[2] From Cicero it meant to give precedence to one person over another and to value one thing more than another, to prefer, as also in Virgil, and in Livy to make one event come earlier.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to carry in front, display, prefer.[6] Its participle praelātus became Medieval Latin praelātus, a high-ranking churchman, whence English prelate about 1200, and the verb gave English prefer in the late 14th century, first in the sense of advancing someone in rank.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of carrying in front.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of preferring.[2][4]
  • c. 1200 – English prelate is recorded.[3]
  • late 14th century – English prefer is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To carry in front; in the passive, to go past.[2]
  2. To display.[2]
  3. To put forward (a statement).[2]
  4. To give precedence to; to prefer.[2]
  5. To cause to happen earlier.[2]

Word family

  • praefericulum
  • praelātiō
  • praelator
  • praelātus

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 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson