procinctus Latin · revision 35824

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [proːˈkiːŋk.tʊs], [proːˈkiːŋk.tuːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [proˈt͡ʃiŋk.tus], [proˈt͡ʃiŋk.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōcīnctus''' ''m'' (genitive prōcīnctūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prō-|cingō|-tus|t2=to gird]], an action noun belonging to the verb [[m|la|prōcingō|t=to gird up]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cicero uses it in the phrase ''in prōcinctū'', “girt for battle”, of a will made in the ranks just before going into battle, without the usual formalities.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word is found almost only in the accusative and ablative, mostly in the phrase ''in prōcinctū'', “in readiness for battle”.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012) The jurist Gaius explains this as the time when men took up arms for war, and calls the army so equipped a ''prōcinctus''.^(OLD 2012) Ovid calls his poems from exile songs written under arms, and Seneca and Quintilian transfer the phrase to anything kept ready for use: clemency, the mind, the orator's eloquence.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Pliny the Elder also uses ''ad prōcinctum'' of men going into battle,^(Georges 1913) and Apuleius uses it for a person's equipment or costume.^(OLD 2012) Ammianus Marcellinus uses it for a military expedition and for an engagement.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant preparation for departure.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it was used, also spelled ''porcinctus'' and ''procinta'', for the outer zone around a religious house that fell within its immunity, the jurisdiction there, and the area round a town subject to the town's courts.^(Niermeyer 1976) In British sources it kept the sense of readiness, often figurative, as in William of Malmesbury.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a will made ''in prōcinctū''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid says his poems were written under arms.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian applies the phrase to the orator's readiness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of a priest's costume.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus Marcellinus uses it for a military expedition.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 814–840 – It appears in capitularies.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The state of being [[m|en|equip|alt=equipped]] for battle, readiness for action; chiefly ''in prōcinctū'', “under arms, on active service”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Readiness: ''in prōcinctū habēre'', to keep at hand, ready for use.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # One's equipment or [[m|en|costume]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A military [[m|en|expedition]]; an engagement.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Preparation for departure.^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The outer zone around a religious house, included in its [[m|en|immunity]]; the jurisdiction there; the area round a town under the town's jurisdiction.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[procinctualis]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The OLD and Gaffiot also record an adjective ''prōcinctus'', the participle of [[prōcingō]], used of an army ready for action, which Gellius has.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}