Etymologically
Log in

statuo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:15. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsta.tu.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstaː.tu.o][1]

Forms

statuō (present infinitive statuere, perfect active statuī, supine statūtum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from status “position, standing” with the verbal suffix -ō, from the root of stō “to stand”.[2][1][3] The participle Umbrian statita suggests a Proto-Italic *statuō.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus and Ennius, of setting things upright and of setting up a statue.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to set up, make stand, as Plautus' couches and Livy's planted standard, to fix in the ground, to erect a building, to found a city, as in Accius, and to set up a statue.[2][5] It meant to place a person or station troops, and to make stand still, stop.[2] Döderlein says sistō stops something moving, while statuere sets it firmly in place.[6]

Figuratively it meant to lay down as a basis, to establish a practice, to decree, appoint a time or price, fix a penalty, and to appoint a person, as in Cicero.[2] It meant to decide, determine, to hold as a conviction, judge, and to resolve to do something.[2]

Its derivative statua gave English statue in the late 14th century, and its participle statūtum “decree” gave English statute about 1300.[7] English institute comes from its compound īnstituō.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of setting things in place.[2][4]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of setting up a statue.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of decreeing and deciding.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English statute is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To set up, place upright; to erect, build.[2]
  2. To found (a city).[2]
  3. To station, place.[2]
  4. To stop, halt.[2]
  5. To establish; to decree, appoint.[2]
  6. To fix (a time, price, penalty).[2]
  7. To decide, determine; to judge.[2]
  8. To resolve (to do something).[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com