Etymologically
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valeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwa.ɫe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvaː.le.o][1]

Forms

valeō (present infinitive valēre, perfect active valuī, supine valitum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *wal-ē- (“to be strong”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ulh₁-eh₁- (“to be strong”), a stative verb.[2][1]

Related to Oscan ϝαλε (vale, “farewell”),[2] and cognate with Old Irish flaith (“sovereignty”) and Tocharian B walo (“king”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius onwards,[2] and in Plautus a slave admires a baby: “how big he is and how strong!”[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to be strong and to be well or in good health, and the imperative vale became the usual word for “goodbye”, as at the end of Plautus' comedies.[3] Things such as fire were said to have force, and states and men to be powerful, as Cicero's fear “that Antony may prevail”.[3]

It meant to be able, to be effective or succeed, and of words and arguments to carry weight.[3] Laws were said to be valid, one thing to count as another, and coins to be worth so much, as the denarius worth ten asses.[3] Medieval Latin used it for being able and prevailing,[1] and a Neo-Latin writer for taking one's leave.[4] It survives as Italian valere, French valoir, and Spanish and Portuguese valer.[1] English value came from Old French about 1300, and valid from its derivative validus.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses its derivative valentia.[2][6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for strength and valete for goodbye.[3][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for political power and for valid laws.[3][6]
  • c. 1300 – English value is first recorded.[5]
  • 1570s – English valid is first recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be strong.[3][7]
  2. To be well, be in good health.[3][1]
  3. vale Goodbye![3]
  4. To have power, prevail.[3][1]
  5. To be able (to).[3][1]
  6. To be effective, succeed.[3][1]
  7. To carry weight, have influence.[3]
  8. (of laws) To be valid.[3][1]
  9. To count as, be equivalent to.[3]
  10. To be worth.[3][1]

Word family

  • aequivaleō
  • convaleō
  • invaleō
  • pervaleō
  • praevaleō
  • supervaleō
  • valē
  • valedīcō
  • valēns
  • valenter
  • valentia
  • valentīnus
  • polleō
  • validus
  • English value
  • English valid
  • English valiant

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press