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prorogo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word prorogo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (rogō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin rogo
Latin prorogo

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈproː.rɔ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɔː.ro.ɡo][1]

Forms

prōrogō (present infinitive prōrogāre, perfect active prōrogāvī, supine prōrogātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prō- + rogō (“to ask, propose”).[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of prolonging.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to extend a term of office, as in Cicero's imperium alicui prōrogāre “to prolong someone's command”; to prolong, keep going, as in Plautus; to put off, postpone; and in Ulpian to advance money from one account to another.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to defer, put off, prolong.[6] English prorogue (early 15th century) is from it.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of extending a command.[2][4]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of money.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English prorogue is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To extend (a term of office).[2]
  2. To prolong, continue.[2][7]
  3. To postpone, defer.[2][6]
  4. To advance (money).[2]

Word family

  • prōrogātiō
  • prōrogātīvus
  • prōrogātor
  • abrogō
  • arrogō
  • corrogō
  • dērogō
  • ērogō
  • interrogō
  • irrogō
  • obrogō
  • perrogō
  • praerogō
  • rogō
  • English prorogue

Usage notes

Lewis & Short give prōpāgō and prōdūcō as synonyms.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Prorogo.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/prorogo. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·