Etymologically
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scopo

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scopo1 sweep

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

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