spondeo Latin · revision 2966

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspɔn.de.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɔn.de.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spondeō''' (present infinitive spondēre, perfect active spopondī or spepondī or spondī, supine spōnsum); second conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ The perfect also appears as ''spepondī'', in Cicero, Caesar and Valerius Antias.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*spondeje/o-|t=to pour libations; to pledge]], [[inh|ine-pro|*spond-eie/o-|t=to pour a libation]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*spend-|t=to perform a rite, make an offering]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The meaning went from pouring libations to pledging oneself.^(de Vaan 2008) The perfect [[m|la|spopondī]] may have belonged to a lost present *spend-e/o-, which may survive in [[osc|spentud]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[xum|spefa|t=offered]], [[hit|išpānt-|t=to pour a libation]] and [[grc|σπένδω|tr=spéndō|t=to pour a libation]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) where a banker's debtor speaks of the money “that I stood surety for”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a legal word: in the contract called ''sponsio'' one party asked ''spondesne?'', “do you pledge?”, and the other answered ''spondeo'', “I pledge”, a formula later called ''stipulatio''.^(OLD 2012) It meant to stand surety for someone, to guarantee a payment, and more generally to [[m|en|promise]] solemnly, as Cicero says the senate promised lands and money to the legions.^(OLD 2012) It was also used for promising a woman in marriage.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ From it came ''sponsa'' “betrothed woman” and ''sponsus'' “betrothed man”, and the compound [[respondeo|alt=respondēre]], “to answer”.^(de Vaan 2008) English ''spouse'' and ''sponsor'' come from its participle.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses its derivative ''sponsa'', “a betrothed woman”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for standing surety.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for solemn promises and surety.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''spouse'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – English ''sponsor'' is used of a godparent.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(law)'' To give a formal pledge, bind oneself by contract.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To stand [[m|en|surety]], act as guarantor.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To pledge oneself to pay, guarantee.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|promise]] solemnly, give one's word.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To promise in marriage, [[m|en|betroth]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōnspondeō]]

+ * [[dēspondeō]]

+ * [[respondeō]]

+ * [[spōnsa]]

+ * [[spōnsiō]]

+ * [[spōnsor]]

+ * [[sponsum]]

+ * [[spōnsus]]

+ * [[spōnsāle]]

+ * [[spōnsālia]]

+ * [[spōnsālicius]]

+ * [[spōnsālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|spouse]]

+ * [[en|sponsor]]

+ * [[en|respond]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts ''polliceri'', to promise freely as a courtesy, and ''promittere'', to promise when asked, with ''spondere'', to promise formally with legally binding force.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}