sequor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛ.kʷɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.kʷor]^[1]

Forms

sequor (present infinitive sequī, perfect active secūtus sum or sequūtus sum); third conjugation, deponent^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sekʷ-e/o- (“to follow”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ-e/o- (“to follow, accompany”).^[2][1] The old participle *sekto- lives on in sectārī “to follow constantly”, and secūtus was a later formation.^[2][1] The adjective secundus, “following”, became the ordinal “second”.^[2]

Cognate with Sanskrit सचते (sácate, “follows”), Ancient Greek ἕπομαι (hépomai, “to follow”), Lithuanian sèkti (“to follow”) and Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍈𐌰𐌽 (saiƕan, “to see”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius onwards.^[2] In Plautus one character tells another, i prae, iam ego te sequar, “go ahead, I'll follow you”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to follow behind someone, to pursue an enemy, as Caesar does, and to follow in space or in time, as in Ennius' “autumn follows summer”.^[3] Rewards and punishments were said to follow deeds, and in argument a conclusion followed from its premises, as in Cicero.^[3]

It meant to obey or be guided by someone, to act according to a rule, to escort or attend a person, and to take a side in politics, as the men who followed Tiberius Gracchus.^[3] It also meant to strive after, to obtain, to follow a road or course, and to pursue a way of life.^[3] It survives as Italian seguire and Spanish and Portuguese seguir.^[1] English second comes from secundus, sequel from Late Latin sequela, and segue from Italian.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for following someone.^[3][5]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for seasons following one another.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for logical consequence.^[3][5]
• c. 1300 – English second is first recorded.^[4]
• mid-15th century – English sequel is first recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To follow, go after.^[3][6]
2. To pursue, chase.^[3][1]
3. To follow (in space, in time); to succeed.^[3][1]
4. To follow (as a consequence); to follow logically.^[3][1]
5. To obey; to comply with, act according to.^[3][1]
6. To attend, accompany.^[3][1]
7. To side with, support.^[3]
8. To strive after; to obtain.^[3]
9. To follow (a road, a way of life).^[3]

Word family

• assequor
• cōnsequor
• exsequor
• īnsequor
• obsequor
• persequor
• prōsequor
• resequor
• secundus
• secūtor
• sequāx
• sequēla

Related words

• secus
• socius
• English second
• English sequel
• English sequence

Usage notes

The phrase non sequitur, “it does not follow”, names a conclusion that does not follow from what precedes it.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press