Etymologically
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succedo

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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

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