Etymologically
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successus

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Forms

successus m (genitive successūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin succedo (“to go up to, succeed”) + -tus.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Caesar uses it of the enemy's approach, which, with the shortness of time, hindered the Romans.[2][3] Köbler dates Caesar c. 50 BC, though he gives Virgil as its first author.[4]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was the action of coming up close, an advance, and Virgil uses it of the running of horses.[2][5] Virgil also uses it of success in an undertaking, as Coroebus exulting in success, and Varro and Livy of a successful outcome.[2] Arnobius uses it of a place one goes down into, a cave.[6][5]

In medieval Latin it meant an inheritance.[7] English success is recorded in the 1530s as “result, outcome”.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of an approach.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a good outcome.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of success.[2][4]
  • 1530s – English success is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An approach, advance.[2][3]
  2. success in an undertaking.[2][1]
  3. A good outcome.[2]
  4. (Late Latin) A cave.[6][5]
  5. (Medieval Latin) An inheritance.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com