impius Latin · revision 18114

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=280/260–before 200 BC, Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *pewH-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɪm.pi.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈim.pi.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''impius''' (feminine impia, neuter impium, comparative magis impius, superlative maximē impius or impiissimus or impīssimus or impientissimus, adverb impiē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''inpius''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|in-|pius|t1=not|t2=dutiful, pious]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|pius]] from [[itc-pro|*pwījo-]], from [[ine-pro|*puH-io-|t=purifying]]; the steps from that form to the Latin adjective are disputed.^(de Vaan 2008) Sabellic has the same adjective, as in Oscan [[m|osc|piíhiúí|t=pious]], and Umbrian [[m|xum|pihatu|t=to reconcile]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Livius Andronicus.^(Köbler 2010) Plautus has ''impia est habitātiō'', “it is an unholy dwelling”, and calls a man ''malum, lēgerupam, impium, periūrum'', “wicked, a lawbreaker, impious, a perjurer”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Impius'' describes someone who disregards the duties owed to the gods, to parents and kin, and to one's country: “impious, undutiful, unpatriotic”, and so “wicked”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Varro reports that a praetor who knowingly pronounced the formal words on a forbidden day was held to be ''impius'' and beyond expiation.^(OLD 2012) It is also used of things connected with impious persons or acts, “unholy, accursed”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “wicked, ungodly, godless, irreverent”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|impious]] comes from it in the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''impia est habitātiō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a praetor who cannot be absolved.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1590s – English [[m|en|impious]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|impious]], ungodly; undutiful, [[m|en|disloyal]] (to gods, kin or country).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|wicked]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Unholy, [[m|en|accursed]] (of things).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[impietās]]

+ * [[impiō]]

+ * [[impiē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pius]]

+ * [[pietās]]

+ * [[en|impious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}