Etymologically
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sub

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈsʊb][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈsub][1]

Forms

sub (+ accusative, ablative)[1] Before p, t, c and qu the prefix is sus- (from subs-), before sp- it is su-, and before c, f, g and p it is often assimilated (suc-, suf-, sug-, sup-).[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *supo (“down, below; upwards”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *upó (“up, from below”).[2][1] The final ⟨-b⟩ may have arisen before voiced stops.[2] The use with the accusative goes back to a directional case, and the use with the ablative to both the locative (“under”) and the ablative (“from underneath”).[1]

Cognate with Oscan συπ (sup, “under”), Umbrian su (“under”) and the Umbrian prefix sub-, Ancient Greek ὑπό (hupó, “under”), Sanskrit उप (úpa, “near, under”) and Gothic 𐌿𐍆 (uf, “under”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in the epitaphs of the Scipios and in Naevius;[2] Ennius writes sub monte lātē specus intus patēbat, “under the mountain a cave opened wide within”.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

With the ablative sub means “under, beneath” (also under the earth or water, under a load, under arms), “at the foot of” a mountain or wall, “close to” a town, and “just behind”.[3] Figuratively it means “under the cover or name of”, “under” the sky or exposed to weapons, “during, in the reign of”, “at the hands of”, “subject to” authority or a condition, and “under” a heading.[3]

With the accusative it marks movement: “to a position under”, “up to” from below, “to the foot of”; in time “just before” (sub noctem) and “directly after”, and “into subjection to”.[3][5] Sub hastā refers to auctions.[3] As a prefix it adds the senses of the preposition.[3][6]

Timeline

  • 3rd century BC – Used in the epitaphs of the Scipios.[2]
  • c. 235–200 BC – Found in Naevius.[2]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: quī sub terrā ērepsistī, “you who crept out from under the earth”.[3][4]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius: sub monte.[3][4]

Meanings

Preposition

  1. (with ablative) under, beneath, below;[3][5] sub armīs, under arms.[3]
  2. (with ablative) Under (a shelter or cover); under the cloak or name of.[3]
  3. (with ablative) At the foot of, close to;[3] sub hastā, at auction.[3]
  4. (with ablative) Immediately behind, next to.[3]
  5. (with ablative) At the approach of; during, in the reign of.[3]
  6. (with ablative) Under, at the hands of;[3] subject to (authority, a condition).[3]
  7. (with accusative) To a position under;[3] up to (from below);[3] to the foot of.[3]
  8. (with accusative) Just before (a time);[3] directly after.[3]
  9. (with accusative) Into subjection to.[3]

Word family

  • subtus
  • supīnus
  • dēsub
  • sub-
  • subinde
  • subter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 s t u v w x y Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson