Etymologically
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sequor

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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

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