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profero

Etymology and origin of the Latin word profero

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (ferō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈproː.fɛ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɔː.fe.ro][1]

Forms

prōferō (present infinitive prōferre, perfect active prōtulī, supine prōlātum); third conjugation, suppletive[1] The OLD notes that manuscripts often confuse it with perferō and praeferō.[2]

Etymology

It is from prō- “forth” and ferō “to carry”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of bringing out.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bring forth, fetch out, as in Plautus, and in Lucilius to display.[2] In Naevius it meant to bring living things into existence, in Catullus to utter, and in Cato to produce documents or witnesses in evidence.[2] In Cicero it meant to bring works before the public, and in Terence to disclose.[2] In Caesar it meant to move forward, in Varro to extend a line or area, as fīnēs prōferre “to extend the frontiers”, and in Terence to put off, postpone.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to bring forth, reveal, cite, and verbum prōferre to speak.[5] It survives in French proférer and Spanish proferir, and through Old French it gave English proffer about 1300.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of bringing out.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of producing evidence.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of postponing.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English proffer is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To bring forth, fetch out; to display.[2]
  2. To produce (offspring, growth).[2]
  3. To utter.[2]
  4. To produce in evidence; to publish, disclose.[2]
  5. To move forward; to extend.[2]
  6. To postpone.[2]

Word family

  • profera
  • prōlātiō
  • prōlātō
  • prolatus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Profero.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/profero. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·