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proveho

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word proveho

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*ueǵʰ-e/o-)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈproː.we.(ɦ)oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɔː.ve.o][1]

Forms

prōvehō (present infinitive prōvehere, perfect active prōvē̆xī, supine prōvectum); third conjugation[1] An imperial letter in an inscription spells it prob-.[2]

Etymology

It is formed from prō- (“forward”) and vehō (“to carry”);[3][2] the TLL compares Sanskrit प्रवह् (pra-vah, “to carry forward”) and Lithuanian pravežti (“to drive through”).[2] De Vaan derives ⟨vehō⟩ from Proto-Italic *weχ-e/o- and Proto-Indo-European *ueǵʰ-e/o- (“to carry”), cognate with Sanskrit वहति (váhati, “carries, conveys”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has “because I did take her out to sea, but could not get away with her” in the Rudens.[3]

Semantic evolution

It is to carry forth, as Pliny the Elder's beehives carried on mules in Spain, and in the passive to ride or sail forth.[3][5][1] Of forces it is to carry forward, as Lucretius' cause that drives images on from behind, to lead forward, and to extend in space or carry on in time, as Manilius' Twin who brings on the thirsty summer.[3] Figuratively it is to carry someone further, as Cicero's Sulpicius carried further than he wished by the breeze of popular favour, and to advance or promote, as his “to what height your merit would have carried you” and Velleius' man raised to consular rank.[3][5][1]

Church Latin glosses it “lead on, carry forward, advance”.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of carrying off to sea.[3][7]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius of images driven forward.[3][7]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of popular favour and of merit.[3][7]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of beehives carried on mules.[3][7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To carry forth;[3][5][1][6] (passive) to ride, sail forth.[3][5][1][6]
  2. To carry forward, drive on; to extend; to bring on (in time).[3][5]
  3. To carry (someone) further (in feeling or action).[3][5]
  4. To advance, promote.[3][5][1][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ 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 c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Proveho.” Etymologically, 19 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/proveho. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·