propitio Latin · revision 34385

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [prɔˈpɪ.ti.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [proˈpit.t͡si.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''propitiō''' (present infinitive propitiāre, perfect active propitiāvī, supine propitiātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|propitius|-ō|t1=favourable, well-disposed]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists the adjective (from Naevius) and the verb (from Plautus) among the derivatives of [[m|la|prope|t=near]], which, following Dunkel, he traces to [[ine-pro|*própro|t=on and on, ever further]], an iterated preverb.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus (c. 250–184 BC) on,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it of winning Venus over with sacrificial victims (''hostiis propitiare Venerem'').^(Conte 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pacuvius has it too, in a line quoted by Nonius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to make a god or a spirit favourable, to appease: L&S call it pre-classical and post-Augustan, with Suetonius' shades of Galba, Curtius' Jupiter, Tacitus' Juno appeased through the matrons, and Pliny's divinities.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Seneca writes that a man has made his peace with himself, and Tacitus speaks of propitiating one's own genius.^(Conte 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder transfers it to soothing anxiety.^(OLD 2012) The passive and middle mean to be kindly or helpful, as in Apuleius.^(Conte 2010) A deponent ''propitior'' also occurs, but much less often than the active and passive forms.^(TLL)

+

+ In Christian Latin it is used of God: the Vulgate has the passive for “be merciful” (''propitietur vobis Dominus'') and the participle for a sin that has been atoned for.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995) Prudentius and Venantius Fortunatus scan the first syllable long.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) English [[m|en|propitiate]] goes back to its past participle.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of winning Venus over with victims.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it, in a line quoted by Nonius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of soothing anxiety.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of appeasing the shades of Galba.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses the passive of God being merciful.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1580s – English forms [[m|en|propitiate]], from the Latin past participle.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To render [[m|en|favourable]], win over, [[m|en|appease]], [[m|en|propitiate]] (a god, the shades of the dead).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To [[m|en|soothe]] (feelings).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(passive)'' To be favourable or kindly; to come to one's help.^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin, passive)'' Of God, to be [[m|en|merciful]]; of a sin, to be [[m|en|atone|alt=atoned]] for.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[depropitio]]

+ * [[propitiābilis]]

+ * [[propitiātiō]]

+ * [[propitiātor]]

+ * [[propitiātōrium]]

+ * [[propitiatrix]]

+ * [[repropitiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}