pertinax Latin · revision 32032

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈpɛr.tɪ.naːks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈpɛr.ti.naks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pertināx''' (genitive pertinācis, comparative pertinācior, superlative pertinācissimus, adverb pertināciter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The spelling ''pertenāx'' has been printed in Plautus, to bring out the link with ''tenāx''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|per-|teneō|-āx|t2=to hold]], an intensive “holding very fast”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) The Thesaurus notes that its meaning connects it with [[m|la|tenāx|t=tenacious]] rather than with [[m|la|pertineō|t=to extend, concern]].^(TLL) The verb [[m|la|teneō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*t(e)nē-]] and [[ine-pro|*tn-eh₁-|t=to hold]], a stative of [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[xum|tenitu|t=let him hold]], [[sa|तनोति|tr=tanóti|t=stretches]] and [[grc|τείνω|tr=teínō|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its earliest examples are a pun in Plautus' ''Captivi'', “is his father tight-fisted? – no, extremely tight-fisted”, and Ennius' “win through by stubborn persistence”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is having a firm grip, as Horace's ring snatched from a finger that holds on badly, and figuratively holding fast to a principle.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of persons it is obstinate or stubborn: a character in Accius is willing to be called persistent but not obstinate.^(OLD 2012) Without blame it is doggedly determined, as in Livy's “the Romans admitted they had never fought a more determined enemy”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of conditions it means persistent or lasting, and of an illness hard to cure;^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses it of a wheat that keeps its character only in the land of the Allobroges.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “obstinate, persistent, firm, constant”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus puns on it with ''tenāx''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of stubborn persistence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of obstinacy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a determined enemy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a finger that holds fast.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 193 AD – Helvius Pertinax becomes emperor.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Holding fast, [[m|en|tenacious]]; holding firmly to a principle; humorously, very stingy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|obstinate|alt=Obstinate]], [[m|en|stubborn]]; without blame, persevering, determined.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of actions and attitudes, stubbornly kept up.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Persistent, lasting; of an illness, intractable.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pertinācia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[teneo|alt=teneō]]

+ * [[tenax|alt=tenāx]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Pertinax'' was also the cognomen of Publius Helvius, who succeeded Commodus as emperor in AD 193.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}