praerogativus

Forms

praerogātīvus (feminine praerogātīva, neuter praerogātīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prae- (“before”) + rogō (“to ask”) + -īvus, as the OLD analyses it.^[2] Wiktionary derives it from praerogō (“to ask first”), but the TLL notes that this verb is not found before the 4th century.^[1][3] De Vaan takes rogō as probably a denominal verb from Proto-Italic *rogo- (“request, stretching out”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃roǵ-o- (“stretching”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest evidence is Varro, followed by Cicero;^[2][3][5] Cicero says in the Pro Plancio that una centuria praerogativa tantum habet auctoritatis, one century voting first carries so much weight that its candidate is always elected consul.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

It was a term of Roman elections for the century chosen by lot to vote first in the assembly, and whose name, Georges says, was taken as an omen when it sounded well.^[2][6][7] Cicero also uses it of the omen given by that vote, omen praerogativum.^[2] The TLL finds it from Cicero, Varro and Livy, and only in prose.^[3] Festus reports Varro's explanation that the first century let country voters learn who the candidates were, and Verrius Flaccus' view that it set the others talking about them.^[3] More often it is used as a noun, praerogātīva, the century that voted first.^[6][7] An inscription from Africa uses it of a promotion advanced by the emperor Hadrian's special favour.^[2] Late writers such as Solinus and Hilary use it for excellent,^[8] and in medieval British documents it means preferential, giving a privilege, as in prerogative jurisdiction.^[9]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the century voting first.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses centuria praerogativa and omen praerogativum.^[2][5]
• 1st half of the 3rd century AD – Solinus uses it for excellent.^[8][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a century, chosen by lot to vote first in the assembly.^[2][6]
2. Of or relating to the vote of that century.^[2]
3. Of an appointment or promotion, privileged, advanced by special favour.^[2]
4. (Late Latin) Excellent.^[8]
5. (Medieval Latin) Preferential, giving a privilege.^[9]

Related words

• praerogātīva
• rogō

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
8. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
9. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press