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propalam

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word propalam

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (prō,palam)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin pro
English pro
German pro
Latin propalam

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈproː.pa.ɫãː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɔː.pa.lam][1]

Forms

prōpalam (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prō (“in front of”) + palam (“openly”).[2][1][3] De Vaan finds the origin of palam uncertain; among Schrijver's explanations is a locative “in the flat of the hand”, related to palma.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it first,[5][4] in the Epidicus: “I am less of a thief now: I rob openly”.[6][7]

Semantic evolution

It means in full view, openly, without concealment.[2] Plautus also has prōpalam fierī, to become known, in the Miles gloriosus: “I fear this may become all too public”.[2][7] Cicero has statues set up in public view, Livy speaking and threatening openly, and Tacitus some acting openly, others in secret.[6][7] Terentianus Maurus has prōpalam est, “it is clear”.[6][7] Glosses explain it as “very openly”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of robbing openly.[6][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of statues displayed in public.[6][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of speaking openly.[6][5]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus, opposed to secret action.[6][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In full view, openly, publicly, without concealment.[2][6][1]
  2. prōpalam fierī: to become known;[2][6] prōpalam est: it is clear.[2][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
Cite this entry

“Propalam.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/propalam. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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