discrucio Latin · revision 34129

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la crux}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [dɪsˈkrʊ.ki.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [disˈkruː.t͡ʃi.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''discruciō''' (present infinitive discruciāre, perfect active discruciāvī, supine discruciātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dis-|cruciō|t2=to torture]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The simple verb is derived from [[m|la|crux|t=cross]];^(de Vaan 2008) de Vaan finds the further origin of the noun unclear: it may belong with Germanic words such as [[non|hryggr|t=backbone]] and [[ang|hrycg|t=back]], but the root does not look Indo-European, and it may be a substratum word or a loan from a contemporary language.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL records it from Plautus on.^(TLL) Plautus uses it of mental torment: ''discrucior miser amōre'', “I am tormented, wretch that I am, by love”, and ''discrucior animī'', “I am in torment of mind”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis & Short note that it is frequent in Plautus and Cicero and rare elsewhere.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of the body it means to torture severely: Cicero writes of torturing Trebonius, and even Brutus and Cassius, to death (''discruciātōs necāret''), and Apuleius has ''discruciābar frīgore'', “I was tormented by cold”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Late writers such as Firmicus Maternus and Symmachus use it of bodily pain, of the kidneys among others.^(TLL) Of the mind it means to vex, and passive or reflexive to be tormented, also with an accusative and infinitive, as in Cicero's letter where it torments him that an estate is held by someone else.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the torments of love.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of torture to death.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of worries that torment everyone.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of being tormented by cold.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it of torture.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|torture]] severely, [[m|en|torment]] (in body).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To vex, torment (in mind); passive or reflexive, to be tormented, distressed.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[discruciatus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cruciō]]

+ * [[excruciō]]

+ * [[cruciātus]]

+ * [[crux]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}