obses Latin · revision 30751

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=epitaph of Scipio Barbatus|origins=ine-pro *sed-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɔp.sɛs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈɔb.ses]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obses''' ''m'' or f (genitive obsidis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The old spelling ''opses'' appears in the first epitaph of the Scipios.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Caesar and Livy have the genitive plural ''obsidium''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|ob-|t=before, against]] and the root of [[m|la|sedeō|t=to sit]], as ⟨*ob-sed-s⟩; the TLL takes it from [[m|la|obsideō|t=to sit by, occupy]], comparing [[m|la|praeses]] from [[m|la|praesideō]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of the simple verb, which he traces to [[itc-pro|*sed-ē-|t=to be seated]] and [[ine-pro|*sed-eh₁-]], cognate with [[grc|ἕζομαι|tr=hézomai|t=to sit down]], [[got|𐍃𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽|tr=sitan|t=to sit]] and [[cu|сѣдѣти|tr=sěděti|t=to sit]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The epitaph of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus says that he subdued all Lucania and led away hostages: ''subigit omne Loucanam opsidesque abdoucit''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An ''obses'' is a hostage, a person handed over as a pledge that a treaty will be kept.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) By extension it is any surety or guarantee, of persons (Cicero says the republic embraces a man as a hostage of his consulship) and of abstract things (Cicero: the Roman people hold many pledges from us).^(OLD 2012) It is masculine, rarely feminine.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “hostage”;^(Stelten 1995) in medieval Latin it is also a security or bail, a guarantor, and a hostage given under a contract.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a person or thing as a pledge.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar has the genitive plural ''obsidium''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|hostage]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A [[m|en|surety]], [[m|en|pledge]], guarantee.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A security, [[m|en|bail]]; a hostage under a contract.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[obsidium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[obsideō]]

+ * [[sedeō]]

+ * [[obsidiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}