Etymologically
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vereor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwɛ.re.ɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɛː.re.or][1]

Forms

vereor (present infinitive verērī, perfect active veritus sum); second conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *wer-ē- (“to be wary”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *u(e)r-eh₁- (“to note, sense”).[2][1] Cognate with Ancient Greek ὁράω (horáō, “to see”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐍂𐍃 (wars, “cautious”) and Old English wær (“careful”), the source of English wary and English aware.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.[2] Plautus swears by Juno, whom he should most revere and fear.[3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to show respect or reverence, to stand in awe of, as Cicero's “to respect and love someone”, and to regard as a danger, to fear, as Caesar's enemy who said he did not fear them.[3][5] It was to view a possible event with apprehension, and with an infinitive to scruple to do something; with nē it introduced a fear, often politely, vereor nē “I am afraid that”.[3]

Döderlein says verērī is fear founded on respect for the venerable, unlike metuere and timēre.[6] revereor gave English revere in the 1660s and reverendus gave English reverend in the early 15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of revering and fearing Juno.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of respecting and loving someone.[5][4]
  • early 15th century – English reverend is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To revere, respect, stand in awe of.[3]
  2. To fear, be afraid of.[3]
  3. To dread, apprehend (an event).[3]
  4. To scruple, hesitate (to do).[3]
  5. vereor nē, I am afraid that.[3]

Word family

  • revereor
  • subvereor
  • verēcundus
  • verenter
  • verēcundē
  • verēcundia
  • verēcunditer
  • verēcundor
  • timeō
  • metuō
  • English revere
  • English wary

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes verērī and reverērī (to feel reverence) from venerārī (to show it), and verērī (awe) from metuere and timēre (fear of harm).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com