amo Latin · revision 2880

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₃emh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈa.moː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.mo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''amō''' (present infinitive amāre, perfect active amāvī, supine amātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*ama-|t=to take, hold]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₃mh₃-|t=to take hold of]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The meaning would have moved from “to take someone's hand” to “to regard as a friend”.^(de Vaan 2008) Schrijver argues from its stative meaning and the noun [[amor]] that it was once a stative verb.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD calls the origin doubtful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Cognate with [[umc|amatens|t=they have received]],^(de Vaan 2008) [[sga|námae|t=enemy]] and [[grc|ὄμνυμι|tr=ómnumi|t=to swear]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) whose character says “I don't want to love her so desperately”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to [[m|en|love]] or be in love, and also to make love or to caress.^(OLD 2012) It covered affection for family and friends, and regard for public men, as in Ennius' “the good orator is scorned, the rough soldier loved”.^(OLD 2012) Gods were said to love, that is, to favour, people.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It also meant to enjoy something or delight in it, and ''amo te'' was a way of saying “thank you”, as in Plautus and Cicero.^(OLD 2012) ''Amabo'', “I shall love you”, meant “please”.^(Wiktionary) In poetry and later prose things were said to “like” certain conditions, and with an infinitive it meant to be wont to do something.^(OLD 2012) It survives as Italian ''amare'', French ''aimer'', and Spanish and Portuguese ''amar''.^(Wiktionary) English ''amateur'' came in 1784 from French, from its agent noun ''amator''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it for loving and caressing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''amo te'' for thanks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for popular regard.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it with an infinitive, “to be wont to”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1784 – English takes ''amateur'' from French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|love]], be in love (with).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To make love (to); to caress.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be fond of, have affection for.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To esteem, support (a public figure).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of gods)'' To favour.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To enjoy, delight in.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be grateful to, ''amo te'' thank you.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(with infinitive)'' To be wont to.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adamō]]

+ * [[amābilis]]

+ * [[amasco]]

+ * [[amāsiō]]

+ * [[amāsius]]

+ * [[amātiō]]

+ * [[amātor]]

+ * [[amātrīx]]

+ * [[amaturio]]

+ * [[amātus]]

+ * [[amīcus]]

+ * [[amor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amātōriē]]

+ * [[amīca]]

+ * [[amīcē]]

+ * [[amīcitia]]

+ * [[amīcula]]

+ * [[amīculus]]

+ * [[amoenus]]

+ * [[en|amateur]]

+ * [[en|amorous]]

+ * [[en|amiable]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Georges notes that ''amare'' is love from inclination or passion, while [[diligo|alt=diligere]] is love from esteem, and Cicero can say of someone that he is “not only esteemed but loved”.^(Georges 1913) Döderlein makes the same distinction.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}