praestans Latin · revision 30909

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=la prae, ine-pro *steh₂-}}

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''praestāns''' (genitive praestantis); third declension; comparative praestantior, superlative praestantissimus^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the present participle of [[m|la|praestō|t=to stand out, excel]] used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) The verb is [[m|la|prae|t=before]] with [[m|la|stō|t=to stand]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*sta-ē-je/o-|t=to stand]] and [[ine-pro|*sth₂-eh₁-ye/o-|t=to stand]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ennius addresses someone as ''Ō praestāns animī'', “you who excel in spirit”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is outstanding, surpassing others, excellent, of persons, often with the field of excellence in the genitive or ablative, Cicero praises the virtue of an outstanding man that profits others and costs him.^(OLD 2012) Of things it is excellent in quality or degree, and outstanding in importance, as Cicero's rule that the most important thing is for appetite to obey reason.^(OLD 2012)

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+ Church Latin glosses it “eminent, distinguished, excellent” and also “gracious”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of a person outstanding in spirit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of outstanding men and things.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Outstanding, [[m|en|excellent]], [[m|en|eminent]] (of persons).^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(of things)'' Excellent; most important.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praestō]]

+ * [[praestantia]]

+ * [[stō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein groups it with [[ēminēns]], [[excellēns]] and [[praeclārus]], which acknowledge superiority quietly, as opposed to [[ēgregius]], said with enthusiasm, and [[eximius]], said with admiration.^(Döderlein 1874)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}