spargo Latin · revision 17974

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sp(e)r-g-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspar.ɡoː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspar.ɡo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spargō''' (present infinitive spargere, perfect active sparsī, supine sparsum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ Horace has the old passive infinitive ''spargier''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan takes it as [[inh|itc-pro|*sparg-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*sp(e)r-g-|t=to strew]], comparing [[hit|išpār-|t=to spread out, strew]] and [[grc|σπείρω|tr=speírō|t=to strew, sow]].^(de Vaan 2008) Most handbooks instead connect it with words for crackling sounds, such as [[sa|स्फूर्जति|tr=sphū́rjati|t=to roar, thunder]] and [[grc|σφαραγέομαι|tr=spharagéomai|t=to hiss, crackle]], from ⟨*sperh₂g-⟩; de Vaan rejects this, because the Latin verb has no sense of sound and ⟨*CrHC⟩ would give Latin ⟨CrāC⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Schrijver compares only [[en|sprinkle]] and [[nl|sprenkelen]], which have the same meaning.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) Ennius has ''hastātī spargunt hastās, fit ferreus imber'', “the spearmen shower their spears, an iron rain falls”, and Cato ''stercus columbīnum spargere oportet in prātum'', “pigeon dung should be scattered on the meadow”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Spargere'' is “to scatter, sprinkle, strew” (Virgil: ''sparge, marīte, nucēs'', “scatter the nuts, bridegroom”), “to shower” missiles or blows, and “to send out” light in all directions.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) It is used of a road or river branching out, of casting one's eyes about, and of driving people apart (Virgil: the Trojan race ''magnum quae sparsa per orbem'', “scattered over the wide world”).^(OLD 2012) It is “to distribute over a wide area” (Livy: scouts ''sparsī per viās'', “posted along the roads”), “to intersperse” in writing, and “to spread” reports or someone's fame.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “sow, fling, scatter, strew, sprinkle”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius: ''hastātī spargunt hastās''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato: ''stercus columbīnum spargere''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil: ''sparge, marīte, nucēs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|scatter]], [[m|en|sprinkle]], strew.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To shower (missiles, blows); to throw about.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To send out in all directions (light).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To spread out in branches.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To cast (the eyes) about.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To scatter, [[m|en|disperse]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To distribute widely; to intersperse.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To spread (reports, fame).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' To [[m|en|sow]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aspergō]]

+ * [[circumspergō]]

+ * [[cōnspergō]]

+ * [[exspergō]]

+ * [[īnspergō]]

+ * [[interspergō]]

+ * [[perspergō]]

+ * [[praespargō]]

+ * [[respergō]]

+ * [[sparsilis]]

+ * [[sparsim]]

+ * [[sparsiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dispergō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A noun ''spargō'', genitive ''sparginis'', “a sprinkling, spray”, is found in Venantius Fortunatus,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and in Medieval Latin it is “a speck, a drop”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}