sarpo
Pronunciation
Forms
sarpō (present infinitive sarpere, perfect active sarpsī, supine sarptum); third conjugation[1]
Etymology
The origin is uncertain.[2][1] Wiktionary takes it as inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sr̥p- (“to cut off”), with cognates such as Proto-Slavic *sь̃rpъ (“sickle”) and Latvian sirpis.[1] De Vaan suggests a root Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to cut off”), found with different extensions in Sanskrit सृणी (sr̥ṇī́-, “sickle”) and in this Latin verb.[2]
It has traditionally been compared with Greek words for a hook or sickle:[1][3] the OLD compares Ancient Greek ἅρπη (hárpē) and ὅρπηξ (hórpēx),[3] and L&S, Georges and Gaffiot compare ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “to snatch”).[4][5][6] Wiktionary calls the link with ἁρπάγη (harpágē, “hook”) uncertain, and that word's own link with the Greek word for a sickle uncertain too.[1]
Earliest recorded meaning
The oldest record is a clause of the Twelve Tables, quoted by Festus, on vines that have been pruned (sarpta).[3][5][7]
Semantic evolution
It was a word of farming language for pruning the vine.[3][4] Festus explains sarpuntur vineae as “the vines are pruned”, and says the ancients used sarpere for “to clean”;[3][4] he links it with sarmenta, the twigs cut off.[4] The grammarians Charisius and Priscian give its perfect sarpsi.[5][6] Georges and Gaffiot also record a form sarpio.[5][6]
Timeline
- c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use the participle sarpta of pruned vines.[3][7]
- 2nd half of the 2nd century AD – Festus explains the word.[3][4][7]
- c. 362 AD – Charisius gives the perfect sarpsi.[5][6][7]
Meanings
Verb
Word family
- sarmen
- sarmentum
Usage notes
Georges and Gaffiot head the word sarpio, with sarpo as the other form.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
- ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
- ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de