Etymologically
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suspendo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊsˈpɛn.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [susˈpɛn.do][1]

Forms

suspendō (present infinitive suspendere, perfect active suspendī, supine suspēnsum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from sub-, in its form ⟨subs-⟩, and pendō “to hang, weigh”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of hanging oneself, and Cato uses it of hanging hams in the smoke.[2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to hang from a point, to hang up for some purpose, as Cato's hams, and in Celsus to put an arm in a sling.[2][3] In Cicero it meant to make dependent on something, and to kill by hanging.[2] It meant to hold in a raised position, build on arches, prop up, and to keep poised in mid air or in water.[2][5] In Ovid it meant to step lightly, pedem suspendere, and in Cicero to keep someone in suspense or leave a matter undecided.[2] From Ovid it meant to interrupt, suspend an activity.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to hang up, suspend, hold off, interrupt.[6] It survives in Italian sospendere, French suspendre and Spanish suspender, and English suspension came in the early 15th century, of a temporary halt.[1][7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of hanging oneself.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of hanging hams.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of keeping in suspense.[2][4]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of interrupting.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English suspension is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To hang, hang up; to put in a sling.[2]
  2. To make dependent.[2]
  3. To kill by hanging; to hang oneself.[2]
  4. To raise; to build on arches; to prop up.[2]
  5. To hold poised; to step lightly.[2]
  6. To keep in suspense; to leave undecided.[2]
  7. To interrupt, suspend.[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. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e 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
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com