attero Latin · revision 31965

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *terh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''atterō''' (present infinitive atterere, perfect active attrīvī, supine attrītum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ The spelling ''adterō'' is also found.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Tibullus has the perfect infinitive ''atteruisse'' for ''attrīvisse''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ad-|terō|t2=to rub]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|terō]] to [[itc-pro|*tera-]] and [[ine-pro|*terh₁-|t=to rub]]; the Latin present is isolated among the other Indo-European languages and may continue an old root aorist.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|τείρω|tr=teírō|t=to distress, weaken]], [[m|grc|τρίβω|tr=tríbō|t=to rub, wear out]], [[lt|tìrti|t=to investigate]] and [[goh|drāen|t=to turn]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who uses it in the ''Persa'' for rubbing or grinding against something.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense is to rub or grind, and so to chafe or wear with use, as Catullus' pillow is worn on both sides.^(OLD 2012) From this it means to wear away or down, as Virgil's bees wear their wings on hard rocks, and to reduce in size.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that the literal sense is most frequent after the Augustan period.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Figuratively it means to use up property or resources, as in Seneca the Elder's “it is hard to gather wealth that has been worn away”, to grind down people or places by exactions (Tacitus says no tax collector grinds the Germans), and to waste time.^(OLD 2012) It also means to weaken a person or a body of troops: Sallust says much of an army had been worn down by the greed or rashness of its commanders, and of Catiline that he wore away his followers' reputation and sense of shame.^(OLD 2012) In Church Latin it is glossed to bruise, destroy, ruin.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for rubbing or grinding.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of a pillow worn with use.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of armies worn down and of reputation impaired.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of bees wearing their wings on rocks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of tax collectors grinding a people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|rub]] against, rub, [[m|en|grind]]; to [[m|en|chafe]], wear with use.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To wear away, wear down; to reduce in size.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To use up or waste property or resources; to grind down, impoverish people or places; to waste time.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To weaken, [[m|en|enervate]]; to wear down troops or a power; to impair qualities or reputation.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' To bruise, destroy, ruin.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attrītiō]]

+ * [[attrītus]]

+ * [[inattritus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}