queror

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷɛ.rɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷɛː.ror]^[1]

Forms

queror (present infinitive querī, perfect active questus sum); third conjugation, deponent^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *kʷes-e/o-.^[2] Walde–Hofmann, Pokorny and the LIV derive it from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwes- (“to hiss, sigh”), through “to sigh”, which de Vaan calls possible but not compelling, and Ernout–Meillet were hesitant.^[2][1] If so, it is cognate with Sanskrit श्वसिति (śvásiti, “hisses, snorts”) and Old Norse hvæsa (“to hiss”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it: “I lament my fortunes, kept from the one I love”.^[3][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to complain, grumble or protest, to complain that something is so, and to bewail, as Caesar's men bewailing their fate.^[3][5] Of birds and other creatures it was to make a plaintive sound.^[3]

Its noun querēla “complaint” gave Old French querele and English quarrel, first “ground for complaint”.^[6] querulus gave querulous.^[2][6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar's soldiers bewail their fate.^[5][4]
• mid-14th century – English quarrel “dispute” is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To complain, grumble, protest.^[3][7]
2. To bewail, lament.^[3][1]
3. Of birds, to make a plaintive sound.^[3]

Word family

• conqueror
• dēqueror
• praequeror
• querēla
• queribundus
• querimōnia
• queritor
• querulus
• questiō
• questus

Related words

• English quarrel

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press