spes

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈspeːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛs]^[1]

Forms

spēs f (genitive speī); fifth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *spēs, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *spéh₁-s (“prosperity”), from the root *speh₁- “to succeed, prosper”.^[2][1] Cognate with Hittite išpai- (“to be satiated”) and Sanskrit स्फिर (sphirá, “fat”).^[2] The old forms spērem and spērēs in Ennius are secondary s-stem forms.^[2][3] Isidore derives it from est pēs “there is a foot” for going forward.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^[2] Ennius has the plural spērēs.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant hope or expectation of something desired, and also expectation in a neutral sense, as in Terence's praeter spem “beyond expectation”.^[3] It could be a prospect or promise, the object of one's hopes, and a person on whom hopes rest, as in Plautus' “O hope of my salvation”.^[3] Spēs was also a goddess with temples in Rome, and Spēs Augusta the hope of the imperial house.^[3][6]

In Christian Latin it was one of the three theological virtues.^[7] Related words include spērō “to hope” and prosperus “prosperous”, dēspērāre “to lose hope” gave English despair.^[1][8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has “O hope of my salvation”.^[3][5]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius has the plural spērēs.^[3][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence has praeter spem.^[3][5]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore derives it from est pēs.^[4][5]
• mid-14th century – English despair is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. hope.^[3]
2. Expectation, praeter spem, unexpectedly.^[3]
3. A prospect, promise.^[3]
4. The object of one's hopes; a person in whom hopes are placed.^[3]
5. Spēs, Hope personified as a goddess.^[3][6]

Word family

• exspēs

Related words

• spērō
• prosperus
• sospes
• spatium
• English despair

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com