praepositus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [prae̯ˈpɔ.sɪ.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [preˈpɔː.s̬i.tus]^[1]

Forms

praepositus m (genitive praepositī); second declension^[1] Late Latin also has prōpositus.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is the perfect participle of praepōnō “to put in front, put in charge”, from prae- and pōnō “to place”, used as a noun.^[4][1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Pliny the Younger, whom he dates 61/62–before 117 AD.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a person placed in charge, an overseer, commander or prefect.^[4][2]

In the Church it was the head of a church, bishop or priest; the head of a community of clerks or monks, later especially of a chapter of canons, a provost; the monk next to the abbot who managed the house's property; and a layman managing an estate.^[5] In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant dean, prior, provost, superior.^[6] Old English borrowed it as profost, reinforced by Old French provost, the source of English provost, and German Propst has the same origin.^[2]

Timeline

• 61/62–before 117 AD – Pliny the Younger uses it.^[3]
• 1510s – English provost marshal is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A person placed in charge, an overseer, prefect.^[4][2]
2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The head of a church or religious community; a provost, prior, dean.^[5][6]
3. (Medieval Latin) A steward of an estate.^[5]

Related words

• praepōnō
• pōnō
• English provost

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson