succedo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sʊkˈkeː.doː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sutˈt͡ʃɛː.do]^[1]

Forms

succēdō (present infinitive succēdere, perfect active successī, supine successum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from sub- (“under, up to”) and cēdō “to go”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of undertakings turning out well.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go under, take shelter under, as Virgil's tēctō succēdere, to put one's shoulder to a load, as in Lucilius, and to come under a heading.^[2][5] It meant to come up to, approach, of troops to advance to the foot of a wall, as in Caesar, and to climb a height.^[2] It meant to move up into another's place, relieve tired troops, and to succeed someone in office, as in Cicero, or of things to take the place of.^[2] It meant to follow in time, and of undertakings to turn out well, prosper, succeed, as in Plautus and Terence.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to go under, follow, succeed.^[6] It survives in French succéder and Spanish suceder.^[1] English succeed came in the late 14th century, and English success from its noun successus in the 1530s.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of things turning out well.^[2][4]
• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of taking up a load.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of succeeding in office.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English succeed is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To go under; to take up (a load).^[2]
2. To come up to, approach; to climb.^[2]
3. To take the place of; to relieve (troops).^[2]
4. To succeed (to an office), follow.^[2]
5. To turn out well, prosper.^[2]

Word family

• successiō
• successor
• successōrius
• successus
• succīdāneus
• successīvus

Related words

• cēdō
• English succeed
• English success

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson