praefinio Latin · revision 34156

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=la fīnis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [prae̯ˈfɪ.ni.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [preˈfiː.ni.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praefiniō''' (present infinitive praefinīre, perfect active praefinīvī or praefiniī, supine praefinītum); fourth conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prae-|fīniō|t1=before|t2=to limit, fix]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|fīnis|t=boundary]], whose etymology is disputed: Walde and Hofmann explained it as a boundary marker “driven in”, while others relate it to a root meaning “to strike”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan records it first in Terence,^(de Vaan 2008) who has the ablative participle as an adverb: ''haud licebat nisi praefinito loqui'', “one could only speak as prescribed”.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to fix the limits of something, to prescribe or determine, and to set something as a limit or restriction.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short call it a favourite word of Cicero,^(Lewis & Short 1879) who writes ''praefinire non est meum'', “it is not for me to prescribe”, and of fixing a day for a successor;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) the TLL finds it from Cicero on mostly in prose, often in the language of law.^(TLL) Vitruvius uses it of what should be laid down about a city wall,^(OLD 2012) and Pliny the Elder of larches ordered to be cut in Raetia.^(Conte 2010) Christian writers such as Jerome use it of predestining.^(Conte 2010) In Ecclesiastical Latin it also means to appoint or limit.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence has ''praefīnītō'', “as prescribed”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it often.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of prescribing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it.^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of predestination.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fix the [[m|en|limit|alt=limits]] of or for.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To [[m|en|prescribe]], [[m|en|determine]] or appoint beforehand.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To set as a limit or [[m|en|restriction]].^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' To [[m|en|predestine]].^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praefīnītiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fīniō]]

+ * [[fīnis]]

+ * [[dēfīniō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}