praefor Latin · revision 33042

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la for}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈprae̯.fɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɛː.for]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praefor''' (present infinitive praefārī, perfect active praefātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+ Cato has the old imperatives ''praefātō'' and ''praefāminō''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prae-|for|t2=to speak]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato prescribes addressing Janus and Jupiter first with wine, using the old imperative ''praefāminō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In religion it is to recite a preliminary formula, or dictate one for others to repeat: Cicero says the ancestors began every undertaking with the words “may it be good, favourable, happy and fortunate”.^(OLD 2012) From this it is to say beforehand or by way of preface: Livy begins part of his history with such a preface, and Cicero closes what he has said in advance about the gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''honōrem'' or ''veniam praefārī'' is to open with an expression of respect or a request for indulgence: Cicero says that one need not apologise before saying a man strangled his father, but must before speaking of certain women, and Apuleius opens his novel by asking pardon beforehand.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses the gerundive of a bodily discharge that requires an apology to mention, and the jurists the participle in the passive sense “aforesaid”.^(OLD 2012) The TLL notes that the participle ''praefātus'' is the commonest form, used passively too from the 3rd century on.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of a preliminary prayer.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of formulas and prefaces.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a preface.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius of asking pardon beforehand.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To say beforehand, by way of [[m|en|preface]]; to mention first;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) (participle) aforesaid.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''honōrem'' or ''veniam praefārī'': to begin with an [[m|en|apology]] or request for indulgence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To recite a preliminary formula; to address with a preliminary [[m|en|prayer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praefamen]]

+ * [[praefātiō]]

+ * [[praefatum]]

+ * [[praefatus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[for]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}