certus Latin · revision 2951

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *krey-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɛr.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃɛr.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''certus''' (feminine certa, neuter certum, comparative certior, superlative certissimus, adverb certē or certō); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*krito-|t=distinguished, decided]], [[inh|ine-pro|*kri-to-|t=sifted]], the old past participle of [[cerno|alt=cernō]] “to sift, decide”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) When its meaning shifted to “certain”, the verb took a new participle, [[m|la|crētus]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The verb [[certo|alt=certāre]] “to contend” may be based on the older sense “decided”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[grc|κριτός|tr=kritós|t=chosen, separated]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) as in ''certumst consilium mihi'', “my plan is fixed”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant fixed or settled, as Cato's “set a fixed day”, and of plans firm, ''certum est'' meant “I am resolved”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was used to single something out, “a certain, a particular”, and of facts undoubted, of signs and witnesses sure, of things bound to happen inevitable, and of people dependable, as in Ennius' ''amicus certus in re incerta cernitur'', “a sure friend is known in an unsure matter”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It meant resolved, confident and sure, and ''certiorem facere'' meant to inform someone.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) A weapon was ''certus'' when it hit its mark, and a step or a sense steady.^(OLD 2012) Medieval Latin also used it for fixed payments and services.^(DMLBS) It survives as Italian and Portuguese ''certo'', Romanian ''cert'' and Spanish ''cierto'', and in French ''certes''.^(Wiktionary) English ''certain'' comes from Old French, from a Vulgar Latin extension of the word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a fixed plan.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius speaks of the sure friend.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a fixed day.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of an arrow that hits its mark.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''certain'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Fixed, settled, definite.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(of plans)'' Firm, ''certum est'' it is resolved.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Particular, a [[m|en|certain]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Undoubted, [[m|en|sure]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Bound to happen, inevitable.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of people)'' Reliable, true.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Resolved, determined.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Confident; informed, ''certiorem facere'' to inform.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of weapons)'' Well-aimed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Steady, firm.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[certificō]]

+ * [[certiōrō]]

+ * [[certiscō]]

+ * [[certitūdō]]

+ * [[certum]]

+ * [[incertus]]

+ * [[certē]]

+ * [[certō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cernō]]

+ * [[crībrum]]

+ * [[en|certain]]

+ * [[en|certify]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}