praefigo Latin · revision 32950

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 50 BC, Caesar|origins=la fīgō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [prae̯ˈfiː.ɡoː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [preˈfiː.ɡo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praefīgō''' (present infinitive praefīgere, perfect active praefīxī, supine praefīxum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prae-|fīgō|t2=to fix]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan sets up [[ine-pro|*dʰeigʷ-e/o-]] or ⟨*dʰiHgʷ-e/o-⟩ for [[m|la|fīgō]], comparing [[lt|díegti|t=to plant, sting]]; the old form ⟨fīvere⟩ keeps the regular outcome of ⟨*gʷ⟩ between vowels.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL finds it from Caesar on, twice in his works, then nine times in Virgil, once in Tibullus and twice each in Ovid and Livy.^(TLL) Caesar has a riverbank fortified with sharp stakes fixed in front.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to fix or fasten in front, or on the end or surface of something: Virgil has arms fixed on ships' sterns, and Livy men carrying enemy heads fixed on spears.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also to tip a thing with something, used only in the perfect participle: Caesar has beams tipped with iron points, and Tibullus a side pierced with a spit.^(OLD 2012) Virgil uses it of blocking an opening, putting spiked muzzles on the mouths of young animals, and Columella of bronze gratings set before openings.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The TLL finds the forms of the perfect participle far more common, and transferred uses only from the end of the 4th century.^(TLL) Lewis & Short note that it is not in Cicero.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it to fashion in front, tip, block or prefix,^(Stelten 1995) and Wiktionary also gives to prefigure.^(Wiktionary) English ''prefix'' (1640s) comes from the neuter of its participle, ''praefixum''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of stakes fixed in front of a bank.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of arms fixed on ships' sterns.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of heads impaled on spears.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1640s – English ''prefix'' from its participle.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|fix]] or fasten in front, or on the end or surface (of); to impale.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To tip (with), point; to pierce.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To block (an opening).^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' To [[m|en|prefigure]].^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fīgō]]

+ * [[en|prefix]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}