reciprocus Latin · revision 36431

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=170–c. 90 BC, Accius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [rɛˈkɪ.prɔ.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [reˈt͡ʃiː.pro.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''reciprocus''' (feminine reciproca, neuter reciprocum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[der|itc-pro|*re-kwe *pro-kwe|t=both backwards and forwards]], a phrase made of [[m|la|re-|t=back]] and [[m|la|prō|t=forwards]], each followed by ⟨-que⟩ “and”, which became an adjective; this is Dunkel's explanation, which de Vaan reports, and the TLL and Lewis and Short also start from a phrase ⟨*reque proque⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) In de Vaan's account the first /kʷ/ lost its rounding before the following labials, and the result did not become ⟨*recupricus⟩ because its two parts were long felt as separate words.^(de Vaan 2008) He traces the prefix to [[ine-pro|*ure|t=back]], following Klingenschmitt.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD and Etymonline give the same analysis as ⟨*reco-proco-⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Accius,^(de Vaan 2008) who writes of arrows drawn back on a horsehair bowstring;^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Varro, quoting the line, explains that a thing is ''reciprocus'' when it returns to where it came from.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a word of poetry and of prose after Augustus.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca uses it of waves surging back and forth and of the sea with its alternating tides, Pliny the Elder of echoing voices, and Apuleius of retracing one's steps.^(OLD 2012) Apuleius also uses it of the ups and downs of fortune.^(OLD 2012) In Gellius it means mutual, applying to both sides equally, and is used of convertible arguments and of verbs with both active and passive meaning.^(OLD 2012) Stelten gives “returning, receding, alternating, reciprocal”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|reciprocal]] was formed from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius writes of arrows drawn back.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro explains the word.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of waves and tides.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of the changes of fortune.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of things that apply to both sides.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1570s – English [[m|en|reciprocal]] is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Moving backwards and forwards; of the sea, ebbing and flowing with the [[m|en|tide|alt=tides]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Going back the way it came, moving in the opposite direction; of sounds, [[m|en|echo|alt=echoing]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Marked by alternations of fortune.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Affecting both sides equally, mutual, [[m|en|reciprocal]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(grammar, logic)'' Of arguments, convertible; of verbs, having both active and passive meaning.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reciprocicornis]]

+ * [[reciprocō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|reciprocal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}