progressivus

Forms

prōgressīvus (feminine prōgressīva, neuter prōgressīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōgredior (“to go forward”), formed on the stem ⟨prōgress-⟩ of its participle with the suffix -īvus.^[1] The DMLBS derives it from prōgressiō (“advance”) with the same suffix.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a medieval word, recorded before 1200,^[3] meaning “moving forward”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In astronomy it described the direct, not retrograde, course of a planet, and with motus it meant forward movement.^[2] Thomas Aquinas speaks of an animal progressivum, an animal that moves forward from place to place,^[4] and Polish scholastic texts say that imperfect animals have the power to move but not the power of forward motion.^[5] Polish sources also used it for successive, for originating, and in law for what concerns proceedings.^[5] English progressive (about 1600) comes from progress with -ive or from French progressif.^[6]

Timeline

• before 1200 – The word is recorded in medieval Latin.^[3]
• late 15th century – A Polish source tells of a man who lost forward motion and speech through paralysis.^[5]
• c. 1600 – English progressive appears.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Moving forward, progressive.^[2][7][4]
2. (Medieval Latin, astronomy) In direct, not retrograde, motion.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Following one after another, successive.^[5]

Related words

• prōgressiō
• English progressive

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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
3. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
5. ^ a b c d Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson