subverto Latin · revision 32906

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=ine-pro *wert-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''subvertō''' (present infinitive subvertere, perfect active subvertī, supine subversum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ The older form ''subvortō'' is read by editors in Terence, Sallust and Germanicus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sub-|vertō|t2=to turn]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Wiktionary traces [[m|la|vertō]] to [[itc-pro|*wertō]] and [[ine-pro|*wert-|t=to turn]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first quotation is in Terence, who has someone fear that another's attitude may ruin those around him.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to turn upside down, upset or overturn by pressure from below: Sallust has the Romans' siege sheds overturned and mountains levelled, Columella lupine turned in with the plough, Ovid great buildings overthrown, and Suetonius a table and statues.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is to bring about a person's downfall, often by insidious means, and in law to dislodge someone from possession.^(OLD 2012) It is also to overthrow institutions and laws: Sallust says greed overturned trust, honesty and the other good arts, and asks whether a consul's decree should be set aside.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that it is not used by Cicero or Caesar.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein contrasts it with ''ēvertere'', to uproot what is fixed, and ''pervertere'', to push down what stands: ''subvertere'' throws down by secretly digging under and taking away the base.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it to upset, pervert, destroy or subvert.^(Stelten 1995) English ''subvert'' appears in the late 14th century, from Old French or directly from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of ruining people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of overturned siege sheds and of greed overthrowing honesty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of buildings overthrown.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''subvert''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|overturn]], [[m|en|upset]], topple from below.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To ruin (a person), especially by insidious means; to dislodge from possession.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|overthrow]], destroy, [[m|en|subvert]] (institutions, laws).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[verto|alt=vertō]]

+ * [[everto|alt=ēvertō]]

+ * [[perverto|alt=pervertō]]

+ * [[en|subvert]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}