Etymologically
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praestus

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Forms

praestus (feminine praesta, neuter praestum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is an adjective made from the adverb praestō1 (“at hand, ready”).[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL's first examples are in the Old Latin Bible: at Hebrews 10:11 a manuscript has every priest praestus, standing ready to minister daily, where the Vulgate has praestō est.[4][2] The TLL also cites Matthew 6:33 from one manuscript, but doubts the reading.[4]

Semantic evolution

It is found in inscriptions, where a man says he was ready for his duty, and a freedman is to be at hand for a tomb.[4][1] The Salic law has rods ready for punishing a slave and witnesses who are present,[4] a life of St Romanus says that the saint comes at once when sailors call on him, and Justus of Urgel uses the superlative of critics most eager to find fault.[4] Niermeyer gives it the senses ready, available and willing.[3]

Timeline

  • after 220 AD – The Itala uses it at Hebrews 10:11.[4][2]
  • 507–511 – The Salic law uses it of rods and witnesses at hand.[4][2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Late Latin) present, at hand.[4][1]
  2. (Late Latin) ready, prepared; available.[4][3][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Willing, disposed.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften