Etymologically

procedo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:57. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [proːˈkeː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [proˈt͡ʃɛː.do][1]

Forms

prōcēdō (present infinitive prōcēdere, perfect active prōcessī, supine prōcessum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from prō- “forward” and cēdō “to go”.[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of going to a place and coming forward, and Accius, of advancing.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go forward, advance, of troops in Livy and processions in Terence, and to make one's way to a place.[2][6] It meant to come out of hiding, appear, to come forward as a speaker, and in Caesar to sally forth.[2][7] Of plants it meant to spring up, as in Lucretius, and of stars to come into view.[2] It meant of time to pass, and in Cicero to advance in years, aetāte prōcēdere.[2] It meant to continue, proceed, to progress, grow, to advance in rank, and in Cicero to succeed.[2] In Seneca it meant of remedies to work, and in Cato to count to one's credit.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to go forth, proceed from, and prōcēdere in diēbus multīs to be far advanced in years.[8] English proceed came in the late 14th century, and English process in the early 14th century from its participle prōcessus.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of making one's way.[2][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of counting to one's credit.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of advancing in years and of success.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English proceed is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To go forward, advance; to make one's way.[2]
  2. To come forth, appear; to come forward; to sally forth.[2]
  3. To spring up; to come into view; to be emitted.[2]
  4. To extend; to project.[2]
  5. Of time, to pass; to advance in years.[2]
  6. To continue, proceed; to go on to.[2]
  7. To progress, grow; to advance in rank; to succeed.[2]
  8. To be effective; to apply.[2]
  9. To be reckoned to one's credit.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson