obsecro Latin · revision 30789

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=280/260–before 200 BC, Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *sh₂k-ro-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɔp.sɛ.kroː]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obsecrō''' (present infinitive obsecrāre, perfect active obsecrāvī, supine obsecrātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''opsecrō'', Festus quotes the old split form ''ob vōs sacrō'' for ''vōs obsecrō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ A deponent ''obsecror'' is also found.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ob-|sacrō|t2=to make sacred, consecrate]], like [[m|la|exsecror]]: “to ask on religious grounds”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|sacer|t=sacred]], from [[itc-pro|*sakro-]] and [[ine-pro|*sh₂k-ro-|t=sacred]].^(de Vaan 2008) Paulus' epitome of Festus explains it as seeking help from the sacred things.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus has ''adversum quam eius mē obsecrāvisset pater'', “against what his father had begged me”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Obsecrō'' is to beseech, implore, entreat a person or for a thing, ''fidem obsecrāre'', to beg for protection (Plautus: ''dī, obsecrō vostram fidem!'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Above all it is used in passing in comedy and letters, ''obsecrō'' or ''tē obsecrō'', “I beg you, please, pray”, with questions and requests, and as an exclamation of surprise or exasperation, “for heaven's sake”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “beseech, implore, entreat”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''dī, obsecrō vostram fidem!''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''nē mē obsecrā''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|beseech]], [[m|en|implore]], entreat.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''fidem obsecrāre'', to beg for protection.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # I beg you, please, pray.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # For heaven's sake!^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[exobsecrō]]

+ * [[obsecrātiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sīs]]

+ * [[sōdēs]]

+ * [[sultis]]

+ * [[sacer]]

+ * [[sacrō]]

+ * [[exsecror]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}