Etymologically
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vigor

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈwɪ.ɡɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈviː.ɡor][1]

Forms

vigor m (genitive vigōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vigeō (“to thrive, be strong”) + -or.[2][1] De Vaan lists it under ⟨vigeō⟩, from Proto-Italic *weg-ē- and Proto-Indo-European *u̯eǵ-eh₁- (“to be strong”), cognate with Sanskrit वाज (vā́ja-, “contest, reward”) and Old High German wahhēn (“to be awake”); its ⟨i⟩ is probably the raising of ⟨e⟩ after a labial.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is from the Bellum Africum, of the energy and wonderful cheerfulness on the commander's face,[2][4] and de Vaan dates it from Caesar.[3]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short call it chiefly poetic and post-Augustan, not used by Caesar or Cicero.[5] Virgil says sluggish old age does not weaken the vigour of the mind and gives the seeds of life a fiery vigour, and Horace speaks of youth and the vigour of the fathers.[5][2] Vitruvius applies it to the energy of an activity and in the plural to exertions, and Pliny the Elder to the “life” of pearls, which fades with age.[2] In law it is binding force: Ulpian's maxim is that what the emperor has decided “has the force of law”.[2]

Church Latin has it for strength, force and energy.[6] Medieval Latin used it for authority and validity, for protective authority, and for the protected status of the clergy.[7][4] English vigor (c. 1300) came through Anglo-French vigour, Old French vigor.[8]

Timeline

  • 2nd half of 1st century BC – The Bellum Africum of a commander's energy.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil of the vigour of the mind.[2][5][4]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of the energy of an activity.[2][4]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of the “life” of pearls.[2][4]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian of the force of law.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English vigor, through Anglo-French.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Physical or mental energy, vigour, liveliness; the energy of an action;[2][5][1][6] (plural) exertions.[2][5][1][6]
  2. Of gems, lustre, “life”.[2]
  3. (law) force, validity.[2][7]
  4. (Medieval Latin) authority; protective authority; the protected status of the clergy.[7]

Word family

  • vigōrō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com