Etymologically
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propinquus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [prɔˈpɪŋ.kʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [proˈpiŋ.kʷus][1]

Forms

propinquus (feminine propinqua, neuter propinquum, comparative propinquior); first/second-declension adjective[1] Gellius spells it propinc-; the comparative propinquior is in Varro and Ovid.[2]

Etymology

It is formed from prope (“near”), with an ending like that of longinquus.[2][3] Wiktionary analyses it as ⟨prop(e)⟩ + ⟨(h)inc⟩ + ⟨-uus⟩.[1] De Vaan, following Dunkel, derives prope from Proto-Indo-European *própro (“on and on, ever further”), with the second ⟨*r⟩ lost by dissimilation.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus,[5] who has propinquam uxōrem dūxit, cognātam suam, “he married a neighbour, a relative of his”.[2] Terence has ex meō propinquō rūre, “from my farm nearby”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Propinquus is “near, neighbouring” in space, and of people “living nearby”.[2][3][1] Of time and events it is “near, imminent” (Cicero: propinquum diem, “an early day”).[2][1] It is also “closely related” by kinship, and “akin, similar” in nature (Varro of related words).[2][1] As a noun propinquus is a kinsman, a relative, from Cicero on.[5][6]

Church Latin glosses it “near, approaching, neighbouring, near of kin”, and as a noun “neighbour, kin, relative”.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: propinquam uxōrem dūxit.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence: ex meō propinquō rūre.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of time and as a noun “relative”.[2][5]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses the comparative of related words.[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. near, neighbouring (in space).[2][3][1][6]
  2. Living nearby.[2]
  3. Near, imminent (in time).[2][1]
  4. Closely related, kindred.[2][1][6]
  5. Akin, similar.[2][1]

Noun

  1. A relative, kinsman; a neighbour.[5][6]

Word family

  • perpropinquus
  • propinquitās
  • propinquō
  • propinquē

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ 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 f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson