praesum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈprae̯.sũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɛː.s̬um]^[1]

Forms

praesum (present infinitive praeesse, perfect active praefuī, future active participle praefutūrus); irregular conjugation, suppletive, no passive, no supine stem except in the future active participle, no gerund^[1] Inscriptions have the contracted praesse, praerit, praest and praerant.^[2]

Etymology

It is from prae- “before” and sum “to be”.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨sum⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- (“to be”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of being in charge.^[2] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

With the dative it meant to be in charge of, preside over, command, as in Varro; to take the lead in, as in Cicero's crūdēlitātī praeesse; to be pre-eminent in a field; and in Titinius to be present at.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to rule, govern, be placed over, preside over.^[6]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of leading.^[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To be in charge of, preside over, command.^[2]
2. To take the lead in; to be pre-eminent in.^[2]
3. To be present at.^[2]

Related words

• sum
• praefectus

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson