propter

Forms

propter (+ accusative)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin prope + -ter, for ⟨*propiter⟩, like inter and subter.^[2][3][4][1] De Vaan follows Dunkel in explaining prope “near” from an iterative preverb Proto-Indo-European *própro (“on and on, ever further”), with the second ⟨r⟩ lost by dissimilation.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius on;^[4] Plautus has in … vīllā proxumā propter mare, “in the house nearest by the sea”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb propter means “near, close at hand” (ubi aqua propter siet “where there is water near by”).^[2][3] As a preposition with the accusative it means “near, close to”, hence “because of, on account of”: of the cause of a state of affairs, of a motive, of a person through whom something happens (“thanks to”), of a means, and of a purpose or person for whose sake something is done; it also means “as regards”.^[2] It often follows its noun, especially a pronoun (quem propter).^[2]

In Medieval Latin it marks a purpose, “for, aiming at”, and after verbs of sending “for, to fetch”.^[5] It is used in the phrase post hoc, ergō propter hoc “after this, therefore because of this”.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – First found in Naevius.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: propter mare.^[2][6]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius: propter stagna, “by the pools”.^[2][6]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it as an adverb: ubi aqua propter siet.^[2][6]

Meanings

Preposition

1. (with accusative) near, close to.^[2][3][1]
2. because of, owing to, on account of.^[2][1][7]
3. Thanks to (a person).^[2]
4. By means of.^[2][1]
5. For the sake of, for the purpose of.^[2]
6. As regards, in respect of.^[2]
7. (Medieval Latin) For (a purpose); for, to fetch (after verbs of sending).^[5]

Adverb

1. Near, close at hand.^[2][1]

Word family

• proptereā
• eāpropter
• hācpropter
• quāpropter

Related words

• prope
• propior
• proximus
• propinquus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d 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 Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson