verbum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈwɛr.bũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɛr.bum]^[1]

Forms

verbum n (genitive verbī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *werþo- (“word”), from inherited from Proto-Indo-European *werh₁-dʰh₁-o- (“making a statement”),^[2] which Hackstein analyses as a compound of *werh₁- (“to say”) and *dʰeh₁- (“to put”).^[2] De Vaan notes that it is awkward that Latin, Baltic and Germanic show different ablaut grades of the first part.^[2]

Cognate with Umbrian 𐌖𐌄𐌓𐌚𐌀𐌋𐌄 (uerfale),^[1] Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳 (waurd), Old High German wort, Lithuanian vardas and English word,^[2][3] and from the same root Ancient Greek εἴρω (eírō, “to say”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus.^[2] In Plautus it is a word, as in “one word: he's a pimp”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Besides the single word, verbum meant words used together, spoken words and discourse,^[3] the actual wording of a text or formula, and a phrase or proverb.^[3] Set phrases include verbum de verbo “word for word”, verbi gratia “for example”^[3] and verba dare “to give words”, that is, to deceive.^[3][4] Often it stood for mere words as opposed to reality or action.^[3] In grammar, from Varro on, it was the verb, as against the noun;^[3] in this sense it renders Greek Ancient Greek ῥῆμα (rhêma).^[1]

In Church Latin Verbum translates Greek λόγος (lógos) as the Word, the second person of the Trinity,, as in the opening of John's Gospel in the Vulgate.^[4][1][5] Medieval Latin also used it for preaching, and for a king's or bishop's command, protection or safe-conduct, a judgment, consent or a promise.^[5][6]

English took it over, through Old French verbe and directly from Latin, as English verb, at first in the sense “word”.^[7]

Timeline

• 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus is the first author to use it.^[2][6]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses verba dare for deceiving.^[3][6]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it for the verb as a part of speech.^[3][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses verbum pro verbo of literal translation.^[3][6]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses Verbum for the Word of God in John's Gospel.^[4][6]
• late 14th century – English borrows English verb, at first meaning a word.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A word.^[3][4]
2. (grammar) A verb.^[3][4]
3. (plural) Words, talk, discourse; the actual wording.^[3][4]
4. A phrase or formula; a proverb, saying.^[3]
5. Mere words, as opposed to reality or action.^[3][4]
6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The Word, the second person of the Trinity.^[4][5]
7. (Medieval Latin) The word of God, preaching.^[5]
8. (Medieval Latin) A royal or episcopal order; protection, safe-conduct; a judgment; a promise.^[5]

Word family

• adverbium
• prōverbium
• verbālis
• verbātim
• verbōsus
• vēriverbium

Related words

• adverbiālis
• verbōsē
• English word
• English verb
• English verbatim

Usage notes

Lewis & Short compare it with vox and vocabulum.^[4] For deceiving someone Latin said verba dare, literally “to give words”.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com