proximus Latin · revision 31659

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables|origins=la prope}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈprɔk.sɪ.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɔk.si.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''proximus''' (superlative, feminine proxima, neuter proximum); first/second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The older spelling is ''proxumus'', and inscriptions write ''proxs-''.^(OLD 2012) Cato has a locative ''proximī'', and a comparative ''proximior'' occurs in Seneca and the jurists.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the superlative of [[prope|t=near]], with [[propior|t=nearer]] as its comparative.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD analyses it as ⟨*proque⟩ plus the superlative suffix ⟨-simus⟩.^(OLD 2012) De Vaan, following Dunkel, takes ⟨prope⟩ from [[ine-pro|*própro|t=on and on, ever further]] with loss of the second /r/, cognate with [[sa|प्रप्र|tr=prá-pra]] and [[grc|πρόπρο|tr=própro]]; he explains the superlative from ⟨*propsamo-⟩, the rare sequence /ps/ before the suffix being replaced by /ks/.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary reconstructs [[ine-pro|*prokʷism̥mos]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from the Twelve Tables;^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) the OLD's earliest literary example is Plautus, who has an old man living in a farmhouse “right next to the sea”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means “nearest, next” in place, and of a route the shortest; as a neuter noun ''proximum'' is the neighbourhood, and ''in proximō'' “close at hand”, also the house next door.^(OLD 2012) Of persons it is the nearest, a neighbour, and ''proximus līctor'' is the lictor walking just before a magistrate.^(OLD 2012) It also meant readiest to hand, and ''proximum est ut'' “it is most likely that”.^(OLD 2012) In time it is either “last, most recent”, as in Plautus' “this last night”, or “next, following”, as ''proxima Dionysia'' “the next Dionysia”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin used it as a noun for “neighbour, relative”, the word of the commandment to love one's neighbour.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin ''in proximō'' and ''ex proximō'' meant “soon”.^(Niermeyer 1976) Its ablative gave English [[m|en|proximo]] “of next month”, used in letters.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – the Twelve Tables.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a house nearest the sea and of the last night.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the lictor walking next to a magistrate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Medieval Latin – ''in proximō'' “soon”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|nearest|alt=Nearest]], next in place, [[m|en|adjacent]]; of a route, shortest.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(neuter as noun)'' The neighbourhood;^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''in proximō'', close at hand; the house next door.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Of persons, nearest, next; living close by;^(OLD 2012) ''proximus līctor'', the lictor immediately before a magistrate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Readiest to hand;^(OLD 2012) ''proximum est ut'', it is most likely that.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of time, immediately preceding, last, most recent; just mentioned.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of time, immediately following, next.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|neighbour]]; a relative.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' ''in proximō'', ''ex proximō'': soon.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[proximitās]]

+ * [[proximō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prope]]

+ * [[propior]]

+ * [[propinquus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}