Etymologically
Log in

sperno

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 02:47. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈspɛr.noː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛr.no][1]

Forms

spernō (present infinitive spernere, perfect active sprēvī, supine sprētum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *spernō, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sp(ʰ)er-n-H- (“to kick, push away”), a nasal present.[2][1] Cognate with Hittite išparra- (“to trample”), Sanskrit स्फुरति (sphuráti, “kicks away”), Old English spurnan (“to kick”) and English spurn.[2][3][4] The perfect sprēvī is a Latin formation.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.[2] Ennius writes that right and justice “keep themselves far from the wicked”.[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was to keep apart.[3] The usual sense, to reject with scorn or disdain, is already in Ennius “the good orator is spurned, the rough soldier loved”.[3] Lewis & Short note its use of rejecting things, persons and advice.[6]

It was borrowed into Italian spernere.[1] Its derivative āspernor “to reject” belongs with it.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][5]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius says the good orator is spurned.[3][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To separate, keep apart.[3]
  2. To reject, spurn, disdain.[3]

Word family

  • āspernor
  • despernō
  • disperno
  • spernax
  • spretio
  • sprētor
  • sprētus
  • English spurn

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes spernere, rejecting what should be avoided, from contemnere, treating as small what is great or fearful, and dēspicere, looking down on what is below one.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c 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
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper