Etymologically
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propter

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈprɔp.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɔp.ter][1]

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

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