per Latin · revision 17727

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *péri}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''per''' (+ accusative)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*peri|t=through, across]], [[inh|ine-pro|*péri|t=across]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Besides the preposition, Latin has a prefix [[per-]] that strengthens adjectives ([[perbonus|t=very good]]) and verbs ([[perficiō|t=to complete]]), and a suffix ⟨-per⟩ that marks duration or number of times in [[semper]], [[nūper]] and [[paulīsper]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Cognate with [[xve|per|t=for]], [[xum|-per|t=for]] and [[osc|per-]], [[sa|परि|tr=pári]], [[grc|περί|tr=perí]] and [[lt|per|t=through]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found in the Twelve Tables and in Livius Andronicus.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Per'' first means motion through or across a space (''per hortum'' “through the garden”), then extent over it (“all over, throughout”) and duration (“during, throughout”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From passing through came agency and means (“through, by means of”), cause (“because of”) and manner, and in oaths and entreaties it means “by”, often with a pronoun between it and the noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ An inscription of AD 159 already uses it with the ablative.^(Lewis & Short 1879) English took it in the 1580s in the sense “through, by means of”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – Used in the Twelve Tables.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 280–200 BC – Livius Andronicus: the booty was shared out ''per participēs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato says ditches can be cleaned ''per fēriās'', during holidays.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * AD 159 – An inscription from Misenum has ''per quō'', with the ablative.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 1580s – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|per]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(with accusative)'' [[m|en|through]], across (a space).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Along; all over, throughout.^(OLD 2012)

+ # During, in the course of; throughout (a period).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Through, by means of, by the agency of.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Because of, on account of.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(in oaths and entreaties)'' By.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' For, with a view to.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[per-]]

+ * [[semper]]

+ * [[nūper]]

+ * [[paulīsper]]

+ * [[parumper]]

+ * [[tantīsper]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perendiē]]

+ * [[porta]]

+ * [[portō]]

+ * [[prae]]

+ * [[prō]]

+ * [[en|per]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}