provoco

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈproː.wɔ.koː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɔː.vo.ko]^[1]

Forms

prōvocō (present infinitive prōvocāre, perfect active prōvocāvī, supine prōvocātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prō- + vocō (“to call”).^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of calling someone out.^[2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to call forth, summon out, as in Plautus; to draw out, make grow outwards, as in Tibullus; to challenge to a fight or contest, as in Accius; to provoke, rouse to action, and to challenge to excellence, as in Cicero; to challenge to a legal decision, as in Ulpian; and intransitively to appeal to the people or a higher court, as in Cicero.^[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to provoke, arouse, stir up, excite, appeal.^[5] English provoke (late 14th century, first in medicine “to induce”) is from it, and it survives as French provoquer and Spanish provocar.^[6][1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of calling out.^[2][4]
• 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of a challenge.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rousing and of appeal.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English provoke is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To call forth, summon.^[2][7]
2. To challenge (to a contest).^[2]
3. To provoke, rouse.^[2][5]
4. (intransitive, law) To appeal.^[2]

Word family

• prōvocātiō
• prōvocātīvus
• prōvocātor
• prōvocātōrius

Related words

• vocō
• English provoke

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press