rumpo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈrʊm.poː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrum.po]^[1]

Forms

rumpō (present infinitive rumpere, perfect active rūpī, supine ruptum); third conjugation^[1] The Twelve Tables have an old form rupsit for rūperit.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *ru-n-p- (“to break”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *Hru-n-p- (“to break”), a nasal present of the root Proto-Indo-European *Hrewp- (“to break”).^[3][1] Cognate with Sanskrit लुम्पति (lumpáti, “breaks”), Sanskrit रोपयति (ropáyati, “breaks off”) and Old English rēofan (“to break, tear”).^[3][1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Twelve Tables use it in the law of retaliation: if someone has broken a limb and does not settle, let there be retaliation.^[4][3] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to burst or split open, to rupture a body, to break through bonds or barriers, to open a passage by force, and to make liquids or forces burst out.^[2] Figuratively it was to break off, interrupt, violate a treaty or law, and cut short.^[1][6] Döderlein says that frangō breaks what is hard and rumpere tears what is flexible.^[7]

It survives as Italian rompere, French rompre, Spanish romper and Romanian rupe.^[1] The phrase rupta via “a road broken through” gave English route, and French route “a breaking off” gave rout.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^[4][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of breaking chains.^[6][5]
• c. 1200 – English route is recorded, from Old French rute, from rupta via.^[8]
• 1560s – English bankrupt is recorded, from Italian banca rotta “a broken bench”.^[8]

Meanings

Verb

1. To burst, break, split open.^[2][4]
2. To rupture (a part of the body).^[2][1]
3. To break through (bonds, barriers).^[2]
4. To open (a passage) by force.^[2]
5. To cause to burst forth; in the passive, to break out.^[2][1]
6. To break off, interrupt; to violate (a law or treaty).^[1]

Word family

• abrumpō
• corrumpō
• dēruptus
• dīrumpō
• ērumpō
• interrumpō
• intrōrumpō
• irrumpō
• irruptus
• perrumpō
• praerumpō
• prōrumpō

Related words

• rūpēs
• rupex
• English route
• English rout
• English bankrupt

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com