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Etymology and origin of the Latin word scopo

scopo1 sweep

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
390–406 AD, Vulgate
Ultimate origin
Latin scōpa
Etymology tree of scopo1
inherited borrowed derived
Latin scopa
Latin scopo

Forms

scōpō (present infinitive scōpāre, perfect active scōpāvī, supine scōpātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

“To sweep” is from Latin scōpa (“broom”) (mostly plural ⟨scōpae⟩).[2][3][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest dated source is the Vulgate, which uses it figuratively in the book of Isaiah.[2][4][3]

Semantic evolution

Jerome uses it again in his commentary on that passage of Isaiah.[2] Venantius Fortunatus has it in the literal sense in his Life of Radegund, of sweeping the courtyards of a monastery,[2][3] the undated Latin version of the Shepherd of Hermas has a place ordered to be swept,[2] and a gloss explains scopare as sweeping a floor.[2]

Timeline

  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it figuratively in Isaiah.[2][4][5]
  • 536–c. 610 AD – Venantius Fortunatus uses it of sweeping a monastery's courtyards.[2][3][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To sweep, brush away.[4][2][3][6][7]

scopo2 examine

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
390–406 AD, Vulgate
Borrowed from
Ancient Greek σκοπέω
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek σκοπέω
Etymology tree of scopo2
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek σκοπός
Latin scopus
Italian scopo
English scope
Ancient Greek σκοπέω
Latin scopo
From the same root · scopo2
English horoscope ← σκοπός

Forms

scopō (present infinitive scopere); third conjugation, no perfect or supine stems[1]

Etymology

“To examine” is borrowed from Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō, “to look out for, consider”).[4][2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Vulgate psalms are its first known source, of searching one's own spirit.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

Gaffiot gives it the sense “to reflect, meditate” and cites John Cassian besides the Vulgate.[3] It is a word of Ecclesiastical Latin, meaning to investigate, test or search thoroughly.[7]

Timeline

  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it in the Psalms.[4][2][5]
  • c. 360–c. 435 AD – John Cassian uses it in his Conferences.[3][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To investigate, search, test.[4][2][7]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To reflect, meditate.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson

Descendants

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Scopo.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/scopo. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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