Etymologically
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voveo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwɔ.we.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɔː.ve.o][1]

Forms

voveō (present infinitive vovēre, perfect active vōvī, supine vōtum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *wow-eje/o- (“to promise”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁uogʷʰ-eie- (“to promise”), an iterative-causative verb from Proto-Indo-European *h₁wegʷʰ- (“to promise, praise”).[2][1] De Vaan notes that the loss of the old /gʷʰ/ between vowels took place after *-ow- had become *-aw-, so the o was restored on the model of other causative verbs, and that vōtum is contracted from *wowito-.[2] Cognate with Umbrian vufru (“votive”) (if it belongs here), Sanskrit वाघत् (vāghát, “singer, priest”), Ancient Greek εὔχομαι (eúkhomai, “to pray, vow”) and Old Armenian գոգեմ (gogem).[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus,[2] who has a character mention the spoils he has vowed.[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4] An inscription spells the participle ⟨uootum⟩.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to promise something to a god in return for a favour, to vow, and so to devote or dedicate to a deity.[3][1] From this it came to mean to pray or long for, to wish.[3] Lewis and Short list prōmittō, dīcō and dēdicō as synonyms.[5]

The participle vōtum “vow, prayer” is attested from Naevius.[2] It gave English vote, first a formal expression of one's wish, and through Old French voe English vow.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of vowing spoils to a god.[3][4]
  • c. 1200 – English vow is recorded, from Old French voe, from vōtum.[6]
  • mid-15th century – English vote is recorded, from vōtum.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To vow, promise (to a god) in return for a favour.[3]
  2. To dedicate or devote to a deity.[1][5]
  3. To pray or long for, wish.[3]

Word family

  • convoveō
  • dēvoveō
  • vōtum
  • vōtus
  • vōtifer
  • vōtīvitās
  • vōtīvus
  • English vote
  • English vow
  • English devote
  • English votive

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com