oppugnator Latin · revision 34208

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la oppugnō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''oppugnātor''' ''m'' (genitive oppugnātōris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''obpugnātor''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|oppugnō|-tor|t1=to attack, assault]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) De Vaan lists [[m|la|oppugnō]] among the derivatives of [[m|la|pungō|t=to prick]], from Plautus on; he assumes a separate [[itc-pro|*pug-]] “fist” behind [[m|la|pugnus]] and [[m|la|pugna]].^(de Vaan 2008) The TLL compares [[m|la|prōpugnātor|t=defender]], which Cicero sets beside it.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who in the speech for Balbus wishes that the defenders of the empire could come into the city and drive out the ''oppugnatores rei publicae'', “the assailants of the state”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Cicero uses it of political attackers, calling Antony ''hostem et oppugnatorem patriae'', and in the ''Pro Plancio'' speaks of one who was not the assailant but even the defender of his safety.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) The OLD defines it as one who assaults a town or the like, and the TLL notes that in the strictly military sense it is used with a genitive only by Livy, Augustine and Ennodius, as Livy of the attackers of Caulonia.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) Nepos has ''oppidani et oppugnatores'', Tacitus opposes the besiegers to the besieged, and Ammianus uses it often.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Augustine applies it to opponents of the law and the prophets, of divine grace and of the faith, and calls the devil ''vester oppugnator''.^(TLL) A medieval British chronicler uses it of one who, from a trusted guardian of honour, has become an attacker.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of attackers of the state.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 100–24 BC – Nepos uses it of besiegers.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the attackers of a town.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine uses it of opponents of grace and the faith.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One who [[m|en|assault|alt=assaults]] a town or the like, a [[m|en|besieger]], attacker.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+ # An [[m|en|assailant]] or opponent of a person, the state, a cause or a doctrine.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oppugnātōrius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prōpugnātor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}