obstringo Latin · revision 31467

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *strengʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɔpˈstrɪŋ.ɡoː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [obˈstriŋ.ɡo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obstringō''' (present infinitive obstringere, perfect active obstrīnxī, supine obstrictum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|ob-|t=around, against]] and [[stringō|t=to tie, draw tight]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains the senses of ⟨stringō⟩ as a merger of two PIE roots, and notes that all its compounds have the sense “to tie, tighten”, which goes back to [[ine-pro|*strengʰ-e/o-|t=to draw, tie]], cognate with [[non|strengja|t=to bind together]] and [[grc|στραγγός|tr=strangós|t=twisted]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has someone dragged off by a rope drawn tight around the neck, and a purse tied on to the neck.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From tying tightly around something it came to mean holding in check, as Horace's winds kept bound except the one that is to blow.^(OLD 2012) Its main use is figurative: to put someone under a legal or moral obligation, to bind by an oath or agreement, as Caesar's state bound by oath not to ask for its hostages back, or by gratitude and loyalty, as Cicero's man bound with gifts.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also to involve someone in a crime or in debt, and in the jurists to make liable to an action.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “oblige, bind”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a rope tight around the neck.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of people bound by laws and of a man implicated in crimes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of a state bound by oath.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of winds held bound.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To draw tight around, [[m|en|constrict]]; to tie firmly on.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To hold in check, [[m|en|confine]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To place under a legal or moral [[m|en|obligation]], bind by oath or gratitude.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To involve or implicate in a crime or in debt.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' To make liable to someone or to an action.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stringō]]

+ * [[astringō]]

+ * [[restringō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}