praeficio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [prae̯ˈfɪ.ki.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [preˈfiː.t͡ʃi.o]^[1]

Forms

praeficiō (present infinitive praeficere, perfect active praefēcī, supine praefectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from prae- “before” and faciō “to make”, so “to make someone the head”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of putting someone in command.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

With the accusative and dative it meant to put someone in charge of, set over, especially troops, as in Plautus and Cicero.^[2][4] In Varro it meant to ascribe to someone the charge of something, and in an inscription to prefer.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to set over, place in command.^[5] Its participle praefectus “one set over” gave English prefect in the mid-14th century.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of commanders.^[4][3]
• mid-14th century – English prefect is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To put in charge, set over.^[2]
2. To assign the charge of.^[2]

Word family

• praefectiō
• praefectūra
• praefectus
• praefica

Related words

• faciō
• English prefect

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com