praeditus Latin · revision 30715

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈprae̯.dɪ.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɛː.di.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praeditus''' (feminine praedita, neuter praeditum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is usually taken as a compound of [[m|la|prae-|t=before, in front]] and ⟨-ditus⟩, the participle of [[m|la|dō|t=to give, put]] found also in [[m|la|abditus]] and [[m|la|conditus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) The TLL objects that this explains neither the meaning of the prefix nor the usual construction with an ablative, and reports Leumann's view that both the common adjective “endowed” and the rare one meaning “put in charge” come from the root [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-|t=to put, place]], with an original meaning “set in front, outstanding in something”.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) Döderlein too relates it to Greek “placed”, [[grc|θετός|tr=thetós]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Amphitruo'': the armies lead out their legions “equipped with fine arms” (''pulchrīs armīs praeditās'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With an ablative it means endowed or gifted with a quality of body or mind (Terence: a son ''tālī ingeniō praeditum'', “with such a character”), and equipped or furnished with things.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that it implies having something above others, and it is common in Classical prose and verse: Lucretius has a mind ''dīvīnō praedita sēnsū'', “endowed with divine sense”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) A rare later use with the dative, of gods, means put in charge of or presiding over something (Fronto: Mercury in charge of messages), and Terentianus Maurus has it for a word placed in front of others.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts it with [[instructus]]: ''praeditus'' refers to a distinction that sheds lustre, ''instructus'' to an equipment that is useful.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it “endowed, provided with, gifted”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of legions equipped with arms.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of a son endowed with a good character.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius: ''dīvīnō praedita sēnsū''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 100–170 AD – Fronto of Mercury presiding over messages.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(with ablative)'' [[m|en|endowed]], gifted (with a quality); possessed (of).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(with ablative)'' [[m|en|equipped]], provided, furnished (with).^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Placed in front (of other words).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(with dative, of gods)'' Put in charge (of), [[m|en|preside|alt=presiding]] (over).^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dō]]

+ * [[abdō]]

+ * [[condō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}