prex

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈprɛks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɛks]^[1]

Forms

prex f (genitive precis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *prek-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *preḱ- (“question”), a root noun of the root *preḱ- “to ask” of poscō “to demand” and procus “suitor”.^[2][3] Cognate with Sanskrit प्राश् (prā́ś-, “questioning, dispute”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬁 (frasā-, “question”) and Welsh rheg (“gift; curse”), and the OLD compares German fragen (“to ask”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose captive begs “by this prayer” (per precem).^[2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was used mostly in the plural precēs, the nominative and genitive singular being found only in grammarians.^[3][5] It meant an entreaty or request in general, and especially a prayer to a god, as Plautus' prayers to Venus.^[3] Christian Latin used it for prayers and the prex sacerdōtālis, the canon of the Mass.^[6]

In medieval law it was a labour service done on request and a tallage, after the German bede.^[6] Its verb precor became Vulgar Latin *precāre and Old French preier, the source of English pray in the early 13th century, precārius “obtained by entreaty” gave English precarious in the 1640s.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses per precem and speaks of prayers to Venus.^[3][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^[4]
• early 13th century – English pray is recorded, from precārī through French.^[7]
• 1640s – English precarious is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. An entreaty, request, supplication.^[3]
2. A prayer (to a god).^[3]
3. (Medieval Latin) A labour service on request; a tallage.^[6]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) prex sacerdōtālis, the canon of the Mass.^[6]

Word family

• precārius
• precāria
• precor

Related words

• procō
• procor
• procāx
• poscō
• procus
• English pray
• English precarious

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
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. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com