decerto Latin · revision 31508

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 100 BC, Asellio|origins=ine-pro *krei-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deːˈkɛr.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deˈt͡ʃɛr.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēcertō''' (present infinitive dēcertāre, perfect active dēcertāvī, supine dēcertātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|dē-|t=down, to the end]] and [[certō|t=to contend]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan lists both under [[certus|t=decided, sure]], the old participle of [[cernō|t=to sift, decide]], from [[itc-pro|*kritos]] and [[ine-pro|*kri-to-]], of the root [[ine-pro|*krei-|t=to sift, separate]], cognate with [[grc|κρίνω|tr=krínō|t=to separate, judge]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from the historian Sempronius Asellio,^(de Vaan 2008) who says a general should not fight a pitched battle to a decision unless forced to.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to fight an issue out or to the finish, as against ''certāre'', to fight without regard to the result, though Lewis and Short note that the distinction was not strictly kept.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero uses it of Mithridates, who alone fought it out for empire with so many Roman generals.^(OLD 2012) It is also to contend in words, as Cicero's “it was not to be decided by debate but fought out with arms”, and in games, as Mela's contests of girls.^(OLD 2012) In Statius it is transitive, to struggle for something, of kingdoms fought over with impious hatred.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “strive”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 100 BC – Asellio of fighting a battle to a decision.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of Mithridates and of debate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43/44 AD – Mela of girls' contests.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 45–96 AD – Statius of kingdoms fought over.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fight an issue out, fight to the finish.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To argue out, [[m|en|contend]], dispute; to compete in games.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To struggle or compete for.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[certō]]

+ * [[certus]]

+ * [[cernō]]

+ * [[certāmen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}