Etymologically
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praevius

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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]

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