propitius

Forms

propitius (feminine propitia, neuter propitium); first/second-declension adjective^[1] Inscriptions at Pompeii spell it propyt-.^[2] Juvencus scans the first syllable long.^[3]

Etymology

Its formation is disputed.^[4][5] De Vaan follows Dunkel, who derives it from prope (“near”) as ⟨*prope-tio-⟩, and thinks this better than the earlier explanations.^[4] The OLD and the TLL connect it instead with petō (“to make for, seek”): ⟨*pro-pet-io-⟩, perhaps from a lost compound with prō-, originally perhaps “hastening to help”;^[2][5] Köbler also gives ⟨prō⟩ and ⟨petō⟩.^[6] Wiktionary likewise starts from ⟨prō-⟩ and an element perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to rush, fly”), first “rushing forward”, then “eager, well-disposed”.^[1] The OLD and Wiktionary compare Ancient Greek προπετής (propetḗs, “inclined forward”).^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius,^[4][6] whose comedy has “with my god favourable”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is used first of gods well disposed to a worshipper, as in Plautus and in Cato's prayer to Father Mars to be “willing and propitious” to the household.^[2][3] It is used of people too, from Plautus and Terence on: a lover is threatened with a beating “unless I make you propitious”.^[2] Plautus also uses it of abstract things, announcing a welcome that is “propitious to me and to you”.^[2]

In Christian Latin it is merciful, forgiving, gracious,^[7] and in Medieval Latin especially of God, merciful, placable.^[8] English propitious (mid-15th century), first “disposed to pardon”, came through Anglo-French and directly from it.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius of a favourable god.^[2][6]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of gods, people and things.^[2][6]
• 234–149 BC – Cato in a prayer to Mars.^[3][6]
• mid-15th century – English propitious.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of gods, favourably inclined, propitious, gracious.^[2][3][1]
2. Of people, well-disposed, kind.^[2][1]
3. Of things, favourable.^[2]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) merciful, forgiving, of God.^[7][8]

Word family

• propitiō

Related words

• prope
• petō
• English propitious

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ a b c 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 Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com