Etymologically
Log in

reservo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:06. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɛˈsɛr.woː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈs̬ɛr.vo][1]

Forms

reservō (present infinitive reservāre, perfect active reservāvī, supine reservātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from re- “back” and servō “to keep, save”.[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of keeping for future use.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to keep for future use, hold in reserve, as Caesar's supplies kept for the siege, and in Seneca to defer a matter.[2][6][7] In Cicero it meant to keep for someone, withhold from others, to keep for a given end, and to preserve what would otherwise perish.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to save, preserve, keep or hold back.[8] It survives in French réserver, Italian riservare and Spanish reservar, and English reserve came in the mid-14th century.[1][4]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of keeping in reserve.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of supplies kept for a siege.[6][5]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of deferring.[2][5]
  • mid-14th century – English reserve is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To keep for later, reserve; to defer.[2]
  2. To keep for someone, withhold from others.[2]
  3. To keep for a given end.[2]
  4. To preserve, keep alive.[2]

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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson