circumspecto Latin · revision 33311

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *speḱ-ie/o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''circumspectō''' (present infinitive circumspectāre, perfect active circumspectāvī, supine circumspectātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|circum-|spectō|t2=to look at]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) beside [[m|la|circumspiciō]].^(TLL) [[m|la|spectō]] is the frequentative of [[m|la|speciō|t=to see]],^(de Vaan 2008) which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*spekje/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*speḱ-ie/o-|t=to look]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|पश्यति|tr=páśyati|t=to look at]] and [[grc|σκέπτομαι|tr=sképtomai|t=to look around]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has someone looking about him and recognizing the house, ''circumspectat sese atque aedis noscitat''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to look about oneself, to look round, and the TLL notes that it nearly always implies some anxiety.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Transitively it is to look round at, to examine or watch, especially suspiciously: Horace has poets looking round with disdain at the temple open to Roman bards.^(OLD 2012) Livy uses it of looking round at someone in expectation, of seeing oneself surrounded by water, and of keeping watch against an attack on the foragers.^(OLD 2012) It also means to look round for, to search for: Terence has someone looking round for something, and Cicero uses it of a man in difficulty, doubting, looking about, hesitating.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it is to survey mentally, or to look out for a plan or an opportunity, as when Livy has men watching for a moment to revolt.^(OLD 2012) Glossaries explain it as to be anxious.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of looking about.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence, of looking round for something.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of a man in difficulty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of watching for an opportunity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|look]] about oneself, look round.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To look round at, examine, [[m|en|watch]], especially suspiciously;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) to be on the alert.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To look round for, [[m|en|search]] for;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) to watch for an opportunity.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To survey mentally.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circumspectātrix]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[circumspiciō]]

+ * [[spectō]]

+ * [[speciō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}