ocior Latin · revision 33264

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 280/260–before 200 BC, Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *h₁oh₁ḱ-ios-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ōcior''' (comparative, neuter ōcius, no positive form, superlative ōcissimus, adverb ōcius); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ There is no positive; the superlative is ''ōcissimus'', from Terence on, and the adverb ''ōcius''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the comparative of an unattested positive ⟨*ōcis⟩ “swift”,^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) [[inh|itc-pro|*ōk-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₁oh₁ḱ-ios-|t=quicker]], from [[m|ine-pro|*h₁oh₁ḱ-u-|t=quick]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|आशु|tr=āśú-|t=quick]], its comparative [[m|sa|आशीयस्|tr=ā́śīyas-]] and [[grc|ὠκύς|tr=ōkús|t=swift]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan notes that the reconstruction with ⟨*h₁⟩ depends on linking it with the word for “horse”, [[m|ine-pro|*h₁eḱu-]].^(de Vaan 2008) Priscian explained it as if from a positive ⟨ocus⟩ not in use.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means moving faster, swifter, and is mostly used with the force of an adverb:^(OLD 2012) Virgil's Nisus darts out swifter than the winds and the wings of lightning, and Horace has ''ocior cervis, ocior Euro'', “swifter than deer, swifter than the east wind”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis & Short call it poetic and post-Augustan in prose.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder uses it of a remedy that takes effect sooner, and Statius of arriving sooner.^(OLD 2012) The TLL notes that the adverb ''ōcius'' is attested earlier than the adjective, and Servius remarked that the adjective was hard to find.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence, the superlative ''ōcissimus''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil, of Nisus' speed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder, of a faster remedy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|swifter|alt=Swifter]], [[m|en|faster]], more rapid;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) of a remedy, quicker to take effect.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Arriving sooner, more [[m|en|prompt]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[quantōcius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accipiter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}