Etymologically
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vigeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwɪ.ɡe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.d͡ʒe.o][1]

Forms

vigeō (present infinitive vigēre, perfect active viguī); second conjugation, no passive, no supine stem[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *wegē-, from Proto-Indo-European *weǵ-eh₁- (“to be strong”), a stative verb.[2][1] The i may come from vigil “awake”, or the verb kept apart from vegeō “to arouse”.[2] Cognate with Sanskrit वाज (vā́ja, “vigour, prize”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (-wakjan, “to wake”) and Old High German wahhēn (“to be awake”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.[2] Pacuvius writes “let him who is vigorous take up arms”.[3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC and Pacuvius 220–130 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to have physical or mental vigour, to be active, of plants to thrive, and of people to be successful or influential in a field, as Philo was in the Academy.[3][5] Of customs it meant to be in force or to flourish, as Plautus says “that is the custom now”, of words or rhythms to be effective, and in Columella of prices to be high.[3]

Its derivative vigor gave English vigor through Anglo-French about 1300, and vigil gave English vigil.[6] The verb lives on in Italian vigere (“to be in force”).[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says a custom is now in force.[3][4]
  • c. 1300 – English vigour is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be vigorous, active, lively.[3]
  2. To flourish, be eminent.[3]
  3. (of customs) To be in force, thrive.[3]
  4. To be effective.[3]
  5. (of prices) To be high.[3]

Word family

  • pervigeō
  • vigēscō
  • vigil
  • vigor
  • vigōrō
  • vegeō
  • English vigor
  • English vigil

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com