erga Latin · revision 30657

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₃reǵ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɛr.ɡaː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛr.ɡa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ergā''' (+ accusative)^(Wiktionary)

+ The early dramatists sometimes place it after its noun.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is related to [[m|la|ergō|t=on account of; therefore]], made on the model of pairs such as [[m|la|ultrā]] and [[m|la|ultrō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives both from ⟨*ē-rogō⟩ “from the direction of”, from a noun ⟨*rogo-⟩ “direction”, from the root of [[m|la|regō|t=to direct]], [[ine-pro|*h₃reǵ-|t=to stretch, direct]];^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) compare the phrase ⟨ē regiōne⟩, “directly opposite”.^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it for “next to”: ''quae ergā aedem sēsē habet?'', “the one who lives next to the temple?”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense, “opposite, right next to”, is rare and found only before and after the classical period.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Its usual sense is “towards” of feelings and behaviour, first friendly ones (Terence: ''spectāta ergā tē amīcitiast mea'', “my friendship for you has been proved”), and also hostile ones, “against”, for the usual ''contrā'' or ''adversus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In post-Augustan writers, especially Tacitus, it covers any relation to a person or thing, “with regard to, concerning”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “to, toward, in respect to, opposite”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it also meant “from”, as in ''emere ergā aliquem'', “to buy from someone”, and “addressing oneself to”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''quae ergā aedem sēsē habet?''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''spectāta ergā tē amīcitiast mea''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it for “with regard to”.^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(with accusative, rare)'' Opposite, next to.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|towards|alt=Towards]], to, for (of feelings, conduct).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Against.^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # With regard to, concerning.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' From.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ergō]]

+ * [[regō]]

+ * [[regiō]]

+ * [[adversus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}