sponte Latin · revision 31191

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la spōns}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈspɔn.tɛ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈspɔn.te]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sponte''' (not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the ablative of [[m|la|spōns|t=will]], a noun used only in this case and, rarely, in the genitive ⟨spontis⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its origin is unclear: de Vaan finds the derivation from [[ine-pro|*(s)penh₁-|t=to spin]] based only on similar shape, and the OLD compares [[goh|spanst|t=stimulus, attraction]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Plautus as its first author,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''mea sponte'', “of my own accord”, in the ''Truculentus'' and “I know you erred not of your own will” in the ''Trinummus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Meā sponte'', ''suā sponte'' is “of my own, one's own accord, voluntarily”, also without a possessive, as Virgil's ''Italiam nōn sponte sequor'', “not of my own will do I seek Italy”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) With a genitive it is “by the will of” another, as Lucan's ''sponte deum'', and ''sponte nātūrae'' is “naturally”.^(OLD 2012) It also means deliberately, “by oneself, unaided”, as Cicero's fire that dies out of itself, and “in itself, essentially”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin has ''suā sponte'', “willingly, of one's own accord”, and in medieval Latin it is “intentionally”.^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has ''mea sponte''.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a fire dying out of itself.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil's ''Italiam nōn sponte sequor''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''suā sponte'': Of one's own accord, [[m|en|voluntarily]], [[m|en|spontaneously]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(with genitive)'' By the will of;^(OLD 2012) ''sponte nātūrae'', naturally.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Deliberately, intentionally.^(OLD 2012)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # By oneself, unaided; in itself, essentially.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ultrō]]

+ * [[voluntās]]

+ * [[en|spontaneous]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from ''ultrō'': ''sponte'' is “voluntarily”, with reference to the mind of the doer, ''ultrō'' “over-readily”, with reference to the act itself.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}