Etymologically
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timeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtɪ.me.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtiː.me.o][1]

Forms

timeō (present infinitive timēre, perfect active timuī); second conjugation, no supine stem[1]

Etymology

Its origin is unknown.[2][3][1] A connection with words for “stiff”, as Sanskrit प्रस्तीम (prastīma-, “coagulated”), is hardly possible.[2][3] Linking it with *temH- “dark”, as in tenebrae, makes sense but is difficult in form.[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.[2] Plautus has “don't be afraid, my darling”.[3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to be afraid, and with an accusative to fear someone or something, as Caesar's men feared the enemy and Cicero feared a man.[3][6] With nē and the subjunctive it was to fear that something might happen, and with an infinitive to be afraid to do something, as Cicero's man afraid to write a name in his accounts.[3] With a dative it was to fear for someone.[6]

Döderlein says verērī is fear founded on respect for what is venerable, metuere and timēre fear of a threatening evil.[7] Its adjective timidus gave English timid in the 1540s and Medieval Latin timōrōsus gave English timorous.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says “don't be afraid”.[3][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it with an infinitive.[3][5]
  • 1540s – English timid is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be afraid.[3]
  2. To fear, be afraid of.[3]
  3. To fear (that), timeō nē, I fear that.[3]
  4. To be afraid (to do).[3]
  5. To fear for (with dative).[6]

Word family

  • pertimeō
  • praetimeō
  • subtimeō
  • timidus
  • timor
  • timidē
  • timiditās
  • timidulē
  • timōrātus
  • metuō
  • vereor
  • English timid
  • English timorous

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes verērī (awe, respect), metuere (fear of a future evil, with deliberation) and timēre (fear as weakness).[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com