Etymologically
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trepido

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtrɛ.pɪ.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtrɛː.pi.do][1]

Forms

trepidō (present infinitive trepidāre, perfect active trepidāvī, supine trepidātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin trepidus (“alarmed, anxious”) + -ō.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of panic.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to act in alarm, panic, be in confusion, as in Plautus; to be anxious, apprehensive, as in Lucilius; to tremble, quiver, as in Lucretius; and to hurry, scurry, bustle, as in Virgil.[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to tremble, be agitated, swarm about.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][3]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of anxiety.[2][3]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of trembling.[2][3]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of bustling.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To panic, be in alarm.[2][4]
  2. To hurry, bustle.[2]
  3. To tremble, quiver.[2][5]
  4. To be anxious.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson