secretus Latin · revision 30728

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sēcrētus''' (feminine sēcrēta, neuter sēcrētum, comparative sēcrētior, superlative sēcrētissimus); first and second declension^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the participle of [[m|la|sēcernō|t=to separate, set apart]], used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The verb is formed from [[m|la|sē-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|cernō|t=to sift, separate]], which de Vaan derives from [[itc-pro|*krin-e/o-]], from [[ine-pro|*krei-|t=to sift, separate]], cognate with [[grc|κρίνω|tr=krínō|t=to separate, judge]] and [[cy|crynu|t=to shiver]].^(de Vaan 2008) The participle ⟨crētus⟩ replaced an older ⟨certus⟩ (from ⟨*kritos⟩), which became an independent adjective.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler record it from Plautus on, in the sense “separate, withdrawn”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense is existing apart, separate: Lucretius' atoms are “apart from” heat and cold, and Livy's Tarquin mixed the Latin and Roman maniples so that the Latins should have no separate command.^(OLD 2012) Of people it is withdrawn, by oneself (Catullus: a flower that grows ''sēcrētus'' in a walled garden), and of places remote and secluded (Virgil: Anchises' house, set back among trees).^(OLD 2012) Of acts and speech it is private, unofficial, confidential (Sallust: Jugurtha settled the rest in secret with Bestia and Scaurus), and finally secret, hidden: Livy's ''sēcrēta cōnsilia'' and unavowed hopes.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “secret, separate, remote, retired, solitary, in private”, with the adverb ''sēcrētō'' and the noun ''sēcrētum'', “a secret, mystery, solitude, retreat”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, its first recorded use.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius in the sense “apart from”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of a secluded house.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a separate command and of secret plans.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Separate, apart; independent; special.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Withdrawn, by oneself; [[m|en|solitary]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(of places)'' Remote, [[m|en|secluded]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Private, unofficial; confidential.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|secret]], hidden.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sēcernō]]

+ * [[cernō]]

+ * [[sēcrētum]]

+ * [[sēcrētō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}