devotus Latin · revision 33645

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81/79–52/50 BC, Catullus|origins=ine-pro *h₁uogʷʰ-eie-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deːˈwoː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deˈvɔː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēvōtus''' (feminine dēvōta, neuter dēvōtum); first/second-declension participle^(Wiktionary)

+ The superlative is ''dēvōtissimus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the perfect passive participle [[der|la|dēvoveō|t=to vow, consecrate, curse]], used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Etymonline) [[m|la|dēvoveō]] is a compound of [[m|la|dē-]] and [[m|la|voveō|t=to vow]],^(Etymonline) which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*wow-eje/o-|t=to promise]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁uogʷʰ-eie-|t=to promise]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|ओहते|tr=óhate|t=to praise, announce]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Catullus,^(Köbler 2010) who has accursed perjuries, ''periuria devota''.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense, from vowing to the gods of the underworld, is accursed or execrable:^(Georges 1913) Horace writes that the accursed tree did not kill him, and Ovid has ''heu dēvōta domus'', “alas, accursed house”.^(OLD 2012) It also means devoted or zealously attached:^(OLD 2012) Seneca writes that everyone professed himself given up and devoted, Juvenal speaks of a devoted client, and Suetonius has the superlative ''dēvōtissimī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) It is also used of devotion to a thing, as in Phaedrus' daughter devoted to wine, Lucan's old man devoted to sacred rites, and Suetonius' equestrian order devoted to the stage and the arena.^(OLD 2012) Caesar has the masculine plural ''dēvōtī'' as a noun, devoted followers.^(Georges 1913) In Christian Latin it means devout, pious, devoted to God,^(Georges 1913)^(Stelten 1995) and Cassiodorus uses it of obedience to the authorities.^(Georges 1913) Medieval Latin adds compliant and even stupid, and as a noun a person vowed to a saint, or a hypocrite.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|devout]] (about 1200) comes from it through Old French ''devot'', and [[m|en|devote]] (1580s) directly.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus, of accursed perjuries.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar, ''dēvōtī'', devoted followers.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace, of an accursed tree.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca, of devoted supporters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|devout]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|accursed|alt=Accursed]], [[m|en|execrable]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # [[m|en|devoted|alt=Devoted]], zealously attached, to a person or to a thing;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Wiktionary) as a noun, ''dēvōtī'', devoted followers.^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|devout|alt=Devout]], [[m|en|pious]], faithful.^(Georges 1913)^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' Obedient to the authorities.^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Compliant, gracious;^(Niermeyer 1976) stupid.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dēvoveō]]

+ * [[dēvōtiō]]

+ * [[voveō]]

+ * [[en|devout]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}