percontor Latin · revision 32997

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [pɛrˈkɔn.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [perˈkɔn.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''percontor''' (present infinitive percontārī or percontārier, perfect active percontātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''percunctor'' and ''percuntor'', and an active ''percontō'' is found in Naevius, Novius and Apuleius.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The OLD derives it from [[m|la|per-]] and [[m|la|contus|t=pole]], a word borrowed from [[grc|κοντός|tr=kontós|t=pole]], with the verb ending ⟨-ō⟩.^(OLD 2012) The TLL reports the view of ancient and modern scholars that the one who asks was first a sailor sounding the bottom with a pole.^(TLL) Wiktionary calls the origin uncertain and also mentions a link with [[cunctor|alt=cūnctor]], which it finds unconvincing.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it of making inquiries and of questioning a person.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to make inquiries about, investigate, and to interrogate or question a person: Plautus has someone wish to ask a woman a few questions, and often uses the old infinitive ''percontārier''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it to inquire.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of questioning.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|inquire]] into, [[m|en|investigate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To [[m|en|interrogate]], question.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contus]]

+ * [[interrogo|alt=interrogō]]

+ * [[sciscitor|alt=scīscitor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts ''rogāre'', ''interrogāre'' and ''quaerere'', simple questioning, with ''percontārī'' and ''scīscitārī'', urgent asking;^(Döderlein 1874) ''percontārī'' asks seriously and calmly from a wish to know, ''scīscitārī'' often from curiosity or with cunning.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}