deorsum Latin · revision 32555

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la dē, la vertō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deˈɔr.sũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deˈɔr.sum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''deorsum''' (not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+ Also ''deorsus'';^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cato has ''deorsom'' and ''deosum'', and an inscription ''dorsum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dē-|vorsum|t2=turned, towards]], with ⟨vorsum⟩ the older form of [[m|la|versum]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) The ⟨v⟩ was lost and the first vowel shortened in hiatus.^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|dē]] from a particle [[ine-pro|*de]] and [[m|la|vertō|t=to turn]] from [[ine-pro|*wert-e/o-|t=to turn]], with the participle [[itc-pro|*worsso-]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus: in the ''Aulularia'' someone says he gets himself down from a tree.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is downwards, of motion and of direction: Cato tells the reader to put a ham with the skin facing down.^(OLD 2012) Varro uses it of counting downwards to the units.^(OLD 2012) It also means down below: in Plautus food cooked is to be eaten below.^(OLD 2012) Plautus, Terence and Lucretius often scan it in two syllables.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero and Apuleius also have ⟨deorsus⟩, like [[prorsus]] and [[rursus]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Church Latin glosses it downward, beneath.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of climbing down.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of a ham turned skin down.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of counting downwards.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|downwards|alt=Downwards]], down, of motion or direction; downwards in a series.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Down below, [[m|en|beneath]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sursum]]

+ * [[de|alt=dē]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}