ultro

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈʊɫ.troː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈul.tro]^[1]

Forms

ultrō (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from the ablative singular of Proto-Italic *olteros, the source of ⟨ulter⟩, like ultrā.^[1][2] De Vaan traces the stem ⟨*ultero-⟩ “more to that side” to Proto-Indo-European *h₂ol-tero- (“further”), as in ulterior and ultimus.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, such as ultrō istum ā mē! “away with him!”.^[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was to a point farther off, away, in exclamations, as in Plautus, ultrō citrōque meant to and fro, as in Cato and Cicero.^[2][6] From “beyond” it came to mean in addition, into the bargain; the reverse of what might be expected, even, actually; and above all of one's own accord, on one's own initiative, unprompted, as in Plautus and Virgil.^[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant spontaneously, voluntarily, beyond, besides.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for away, and ultrō citrōque back and forth.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses ultrō citrō.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ultrō citrōque.^[6][5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. To a point farther off, away, ultrō citrōque, to and fro.^[2]
2. In addition, into the bargain.^[2]
3. On the contrary, even, actually.^[2]
4. Of one's own accord, spontaneously, unprompted.^[2]

Word family

• ultrōneus
• ultrorsum

Related words

• ultrā
• ulterior
• ultimus

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press