retrogradus

Forms

retrōgradus, retrōgrada, retrōgradum; first and second declension^[1]

Etymology

The OLD treats it as a variant of retrōgradis, which it derives from Latin retrōgradior (“to go backwards”).^[1] Lewis & Short derive it directly from the verb,^[2] and VOLI analyses it as retrō (“backwards”) and gradior (“to step”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Seneca has it in the Natural Questions of a planet that seems to move backwards, noting that this was the name given to a receding Jupiter.^[1][4]

Semantic evolution

Pliny the Elder writes that Mercury does not become retrograde in Taurus and Gemini.^[1] Augustine calls a verse that reads the same backwards a carmen retrogradum.^[2] In Medieval Latin it meant moving backwards in general, of the crab in Aldhelm's riddle,^[5] reverse order, and palindromic verse.^[5] A record of 1452 in the Sforza archives uses it of debtors unwilling to pay,^[6] and Köbler lists a medieval noun meaning “crab”.^[4]

English retrograde (late 14th century) was first said of planets.^[7]

Timeline

• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a planet that seems to move backwards.^[1][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of Mercury.^[1][4]
• 354–430 AD – Augustine calls a palindromic verse carmen retrogradum.^[2][4]
• 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it of the crab's walk.^[5][4]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as retrograde, of planets.^[7]
• 1452 – A record in the Sforza archives uses it of reluctant debtors.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (astronomy) Of planets: seeming to move backwards, retrograde.^[1][2][8]
2. Going or moving backwards.^[2][9][5]
3. (Late Latin) Of verse: reading the same backwards, palindromic.^[2][5]
4. (New Latin) Of debtors: unwilling to pay.^[6]

Related words

• retro
• gradior

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
9. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn