prostituo Latin · revision 34691

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [proːsˈtɪ.tu.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [prosˈtiː.tu.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōstituō''' (present infinitive prōstituere, perfect active prōstituī, supine prōstitūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prō-|statuō|t2=to set up, place]], literally “to set up in front, expose publicly”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It first appears in Plautus, meaning to [[m|en|prostitute]]: in the ''Pseudolus'' a speaker threatens “tomorrow I will prostitute you to the people”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Catullus has a woman who prostitutes herself with her whole body,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) and a fragment of a speech of Cicero uses it of improper sexual use of a man.^(OLD 2012) Cato already used it figuratively, of exposing someone's reputation to shame,^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) and Ovid has a voice prostituted to the ungrateful forum and sins exposed to ill repute;^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Seneca says that philosophy has prostituted itself.^(Conte 2010) Suetonius, Seneca the Elder and Lactantius use it of prostituting chastity or bodies.^(Georges 1913) The TLL notes that poets use it only in a few places.^(TLL)

+

+ The literal sense “to place in front” is recorded only late, in Tertullian and Arnobius.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Ecclesiastical Latin also used it for “dishonour, sully”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for “prostitute”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of exposing a reputation to shame.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it for putting to an unworthy use.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it for “place in front”.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|prostitute]], put to the uses of prostitution; to put to improper sexual use.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To put to an unworthy use for gain.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To expose to public shame, [[m|en|dishonour]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' To place in front.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prostitūta]]

+ * [[prōstitūtiō]]

+ * [[prostitutor]]

+ * [[prostitūtus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}