praeservativus

Forms

praeservātīvus (feminine praeservātīva, neuter praeservātīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin praeservō (“to guard beforehand”) + -īvus, on the stem of the past participle ⟨praeservātus⟩.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first dated use is in a letter of Robert Grosseteste of 1239, of a medicine by which a doctor keeps a patient's health more stable against illness.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant “preserving, keeping safe from”, above all of medicines that ward off disease: in 1511 a medicine against the plague is bought for the brothers of an Oxford college.^[2] Bradwardine applied it to final perseverance, which keeps a soul from mortal sin.^[2] As a neuter noun it named a medicine that protects health, for example against leprosy in John of Gaddesden.^[2] Polish Medieval Latin used it for preventive and protective.^[4] English preservative (late 14th century) comes from Old French and directly from the Medieval Latin word; the noun followed in the early 15th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 1239 – Robert Grosseteste writes of a preserving medicine.^[2]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as preservative.^[3]
• 1511 – An Oxford college buys a preservative medicine against the plague.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) That preserves or keeps safe from something; preservative, protective, preventive.^[2][1][4]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, neuter) A medicine that preserves health or protects from disease; a preservative.^[2]

Related words

• servō
• English preservative

References

1. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl