impensus Latin · revision 34235

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''impēnsus''' (feminine impēnsa, neuter impēnsum, comparative impēnsior, superlative impēnsissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ It is also spelt ''inpēnsus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|impendō|t=to pay out, expend]], the perfect passive participle used as an adjective, as Georges, Conte, Köbler and the TLL take it.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL) The OLD instead treats the whole word as a compound of [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[m|la|pēnsus|t=weighed]], and takes only the senses of high price and intensity as perhaps the participle of that verb.^(OLD 2012) De Vaan lists the verb among the derivatives of [[m|la|pendō|t=to weigh, pay]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*pend-e/o-|t=to hang]]; most handbooks, he notes, see a variant of [[ine-pro|*(s)penh₁-|t=to spin, weave]] in its root.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who writes to Atticus that he would hand over a villa to Quintus even ''impenso pretio'', at a high price.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of price it means high, dear: Caesar and Livy have ''impenso pretio'', and Horace uses ''impenso'' alone for “at great cost”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Gellius has heavier injuries punished with a ''damno impensiore'', a heavier fine.^(Georges 1913) From the price it was transferred to degree, meaning great, strong, earnest: Cicero speaks of ''tam impensa voluntas bonorum'', the strong goodwill of the good citizens, Lucretius of violent lust and Virgil of a burning love.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Ovid and Tacitus use the comparative ''impensior cura'', Valerius Maximus of extravagant words of praise, Quintilian of hard work spent on a science, and Suetonius of the most urgent prayers.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) In Ecclesiastical Latin it means ample, considerable, expensive, zealous, earnest.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a high price and of strong goodwill.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a burning love.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius has ''impensissimae preces'', the most urgent prayers.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of price, high, [[m|en|dear]], [[m|en|costly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # Of feelings and conduct, great, strong, [[m|en|earnest]], immoderate.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[impendō]]

+ * [[impēnsa]]

+ * [[impēnsē]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The OLD puts under this word a sense “not paid”, from a gloss in Festus on ''impensam stipem'', sacred money not yet weighed out, and a Plautine line ''ingrato homine nihil impensius est'', which it takes as “nothing is more worthless than an ungrateful man”;^(OLD 2012) the TLL and Köbler treat this as a separate word from [[m|la|in-]] and [[m|la|pēnsus]], while Georges and Conte read the Plautus line as “nothing costs more than an ungrateful man”.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) A noun ''impēnsus'', fourth declension, “outlay, expense”, appears only in the ablative in Symmachus;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Lewis and Short and Georges render it “outlay”, Conte “zeal”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}