defenso Latin · revision 34403

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *gʷʰen-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēfēnsō''' (present infinitive dēfēnsāre, perfect active dēfēnsāvī, supine dēfēnsātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a frequentative verb, [[der|la|dēfendō|t=to ward off, defend]], formed with the suffix [[m|la|-tō]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|-fendō]], an inherited verb kept only in compounds, which he traces to the root [[ine-pro|*gʷʰen-|t=to hit, strike]].^(de Vaan 2008) He compares [[sga|gonaid|t=wounds, kills]], [[hit|kue(n)-zi]] “to kill” and [[sa|हन्ति|tr=hánti|t=to kill]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first author is Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) where a character promises “from here I will defend you” (''hinc ego vos dēfēnsābō'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word is rare: before the Christian era the TLL finds it only in Plautus, Sallust and Ovid.^(TLL) Its main sense is to [[m|en|protect]] persons or places with vigour, as when Sallust speaks of those who defended the walls and Ovid of a shield that guards the shoulders.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) Statius and Gellius use it in the other direction, of warding off fears or envy.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) The verb went on into Christian and medieval Latin, where the MLW records both senses, keeping away and protecting persons and things.^(MLW)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of defending people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of defending walls.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–AD 18 – Ovid uses it of a shield protecting the shoulders.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 45–96 AD – Statius uses it of warding off fears.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of warding off envy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|ward off]] steadily, keep away (fears, envy).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To [[m|en|defend]] vigorously, protect (people, walls).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[defensabilis]]

+ * [[defensator]]

+ * [[dēfēnsātrīx]]

+ * [[dēfēnsitō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}