praeco Latin · revision 31173

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praecō''' ''m'' (genitive praecōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ An old dative ''praecōnei'' appears in an inscription.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan explains it as a syncopated ⟨*praidikō⟩, ⟨*praedkō⟩, with the prefix and root of [[m|la|praedīcō|t=to proclaim]]; the OLD calls this a possibility, and the TLL also mentions ⟨*prae-vocō⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan derives [[m|la|dīcō|t=to say]] from [[itc-pro|*deike-|t=to say]] and [[ine-pro|*deyḱ-|t=to show]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Livius Andronicus as its first author,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in whose tragedy “the crier calls the pentathletes into the middle”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a crier or announcer, at games, in assemblies and in the courts, where the ''praecōnēs'' formed a body of officials serving the magistrates, as in a law that names their ''decuria'' attending the quaestors at the treasury.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also an auctioneer, as Plautus' “let the auctioneer be there to sell with the garland”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “herald, crier, publisher, one who praises”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it is a count's beadle, a ''scultetus'', a herald, a wine-crier and a preacher.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus of a crier at games.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of an auctioneer.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|crier]], [[m|en|herald]], announcer; an official crier (in courts and assemblies).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|auctioneer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' One who praises, a publisher (of praise).^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A beadle; a wine-crier; a [[m|en|preacher]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praecōnius]]

+ * [[praecōnor]]

+ * [[praecōnium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praedīcō]]

+ * [[dīcō]]

+ * [[nūntius]]

+ * [[cādūceātor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}