propius

Forms

propius (adverb and preposition; comparative of prope)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is the comparative of prope (“near”), the adverbial neuter of propior (“nearer”).^[1][2] De Vaan, after Dunkel, explains ⟨prope⟩ from an iterative preverb Proto-Indo-European *própro (“on and on, ever further”), “very much in front, near”, with the second /r/ lost by dissimilation; ⟨propior⟩ is its regular comparative.^[3] Cognates are Sanskrit प्रप्र (prá-pra, “on and on”) and Ancient Greek πρόπρο (própro, “before; on and on”).^[3] The OLD instead sets up ⟨*proqʷe⟩, comparing proximus.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, Poenulus: adeāmus propius, “let's go nearer”.^[1]

Semantic evolution

Propius is “nearer” in space, both of motion (Plautus) and of position, and with multō “much nearer” (Terence: hāc multō propius ībis, “you'll go much more directly this way”).^[1] With verbs of seeing or hearing it means “more closely”, and with verbs of favour “more kindly” (Virgil: propius rēs aspice nostrās).^[1] It is used of nearness in time and in degree: propius vērō est, “it is nearer the truth, more likely” (Sallust, Livy), propius est ut, “it is more reasonable that” (the jurist Proculus), and nihil propius factum est quam ut, “nothing came closer to happening than that” (Plautus).^[1][2] As a preposition with the accusative it means “nearer to”: propius fidem est, “it is closer to belief, more credible”.^[1]

Church Latin glosses the adjective “nearer”.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: adeāmus propius.^[1][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence: multō propius.^[1][5]
• 86–34 BC – Sallust: propius vērō est.^[1][5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. (comparative of prope) nearer, closer.^[1][2]
2. More closely; more kindly.^[1]
3. Nearer in time or degree;^[1][2] propius vērō est, it is more probable.^[1][2]

Preposition

1. (with accusative) Nearer to.^[1]

Related words

• propior
• proximus
• propinquus
• propter

References

1. ^ 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
2. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ 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
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de