praevius

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈprae̯.wi.ʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɛː.vi.us]^[1]

Forms

praevius (feminine praevia, neuter praevium); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prae- + via (“road, way”), with the adjective ending.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in his translation of Aratus quoted by Nonius, calls a star the forerunner of the Dawn.^[4][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant going before, leading the way, and was mainly poetic: Ovid says Orpheus now walks ahead, and calls Aurora the forerunner of the light.^[4][2] Statius uses it too, and Ambrose says modesty should go before speech.^[4][7]

In medieval Latin it meant previous, former.^[8] British writers used it of what goes before or leads, and as a noun of a leader or guide, and of a herald.^[9] English previous is recorded in the 1620s.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in his Aratus.^[4][6]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of Orpheus and of Aurora.^[4][6]
• c. 340–397 AD – Ambrose uses it of modesty preceding speech.^[7][6]
• 1620s – English previous is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Going before, leading the way; acting as a harbinger.^[2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) Previous, former.^[8]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A leader, guide; a herald.^[9]

Related words

• via
• English previous

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
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