secure

Pronunciation

• Classical: [seːˈkuː.reː]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [seˈkuː.re]^[1]

Forms

sēcūrē (comparative sēcūrius, superlative sēcūrissimē)^[1] The comparative is sēcūrius.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sēcūrus (“free from care”) + -ē.^[2][1] De Vaan says that sēcūrus was formed directly from cūra (“care”), with sē- (“apart, without”);^[3] he traces cūra to Proto-Italic *kwois-ā- (“care, watch”), perhaps from a root Proto-Indo-European *kwei- (“to take notice, heed”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Seneca.^[4] The OLD's first example is in Velleius Paterculus, of keeping someone honourably but not without anxiety.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means without fear or misgivings, with an easy mind, unconcernedly.^[2] Wiktionary also gives carelessly and quietly.^[1] The jurists use it for so as to leave no room for doubt, definitely, and for safely, without risk that an act will be altered or annulled, as Ulpian does of making a will.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus, “without anxiety”.^[2][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca.^[4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian, “definitely” and “safely”.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Without fear, with an easy mind, unconcernedly;^[2][1] carelessly.^[1]
2. (law) Definitely, so as to leave no doubt.^[2]
3. (law) Safely, without risk of being altered or annulled.^[2]

Related words

• sēcūrus
• sēcūritās
• cūra

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de