obsidio Latin · revision 31038

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɔpˈsɪ.di.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [obˈsiː.di.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obsidiō''' ''f'' (genitive obsidiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''opsidiō''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|obsideō|t=to besiege]] with the suffix [[m|la|-iō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The verb is [[m|la|ob-|t=against]] and [[m|la|sedeō|t=to sit]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*sedē-|t=to be seated]] and [[ine-pro|*sed-|t=to sit]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Paul's epitome of Festus cites Ennius' ''Telamo'' for ''obsidiō'' as the better form than ''obsidium'', with the line “for whom you prepare a siege”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler lists Plautus.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the besieging or blockading of a place, as Cicero's cities taken partly by force, partly by siege, Livy contrasts it with assault (''oppugnātiō''), and there are many phrases: ''obsidiōne cingere'' to besiege, ''obsidiōnem solvere'' to raise or end a siege, ''obsidiōne eximere'' to relieve.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it is a pressing danger, as Cicero's state freed from siege and moneylenders saved from losing their money.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “siege”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it was also the condition of a hostage, as if from [[m|la|obses|t=hostage]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of preparing a siege.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of cities taken by siege and of pressing danger.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of holding someone under siege.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of siege as against assault.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|siege]], [[m|en|blockade]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Pressing danger.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The condition of a hostage.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[obsidiōnālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[obsideō]]

+ * [[obsidium]]

+ * [[sedeō]]

+ * [[oppugnātiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}