Etymologically
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transeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtrãː.se.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtran.se.o][1]

Forms

trānseō (present infinitive trānsīre, perfect active trānsiī or trānsīvī, supine trānsitum); irregular conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from trāns- “across” and eō “to go”.[2][1][3] An inscription has ⟨trās-⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of crossing over.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to cross over from one place to another, as Caesar's in Galliam trānsīre, and in Cicero to cross a river.[2][5] In Cicero it meant of qualities to pass to another place, in Seneca of ownership to pass to another person, and in Plautus to go over to the other side, change allegiance.[2] It meant to move on to another practice, condition or subject, as in Varro, and in Ovid to be transformed.[2] In Cicero it meant to pass through a region, in Cato of things to pass through, and in Plautus to pierce.[2] In Lucretius it meant to go through a period, in Propertius to pass by, in Virgil to overtake, and in Cicero to overstep limits and to ignore, and in Virgil to omit.[2] From Afranius it meant to pass away, and in Cicero of time to go by.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to pass through, go across, depart.[6] It survives in archaic Italian trasire, and French transir is a borrowing.[1] Its participle trānsitus gave English transit in the mid-15th century.[3] Wiktionary also lists English trance among its descendants.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of crossing over.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of changing sides.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of crossing a river.[2][4]
  • mid-15th century – English transit is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To cross over; to cross.[2]
  2. To pass to another place or owner.[2]
  3. To go over to the other side.[2]
  4. To move on (to another condition or subject).[2]
  5. To be transformed.[2]
  6. To pass through; to pierce.[2]
  7. To go through (a period, a series).[2]
  8. To pass by; to overtake; to surpass; to overstep.[2]
  9. To pass over, ignore; to omit.[2]
  10. To pass away; of time, to go by.[2]

Word family

  • pertrānseō
  • trānsitiō
  • transitor
  • trānsitōrius
  • trānsitus
  • supertrānseō
  • trānseunter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 r s t u v 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