depecto Latin · revision 36618

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=la pectō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deːˈpɛk.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deˈpɛk.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēpectō''' (present infinitive dēpectere, supine dēpexum); third conjugation, no perfect stem^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dē-|pectō|t2=to comb]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|pectō]], which he traces to [[itc-pro|*petke/o-|t=to comb]]; he finds attractive Pinault's view that this continues [[ine-pro|*p(e)tḱ-]], a dissimilated reduplicated present [[m|ine-pro|*pe-pḱ-]], a form that suits the repeated motion of combing.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Terence.^(de Vaan 2008) In the ''Heauton Timorumenos'' it is used ironically of a beating: ''adeō exōrnātum dabō, adeō dēpexum, ut dum vīvat meminerit semper meī'', “I'll have him so dressed down and so combed out that he'll remember me as long as he lives.”^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Ancient commentators on the line explain it as “thrashed” or “torn”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In its literal sense it meant to comb hair thoroughly: Ovid speaks of combing the hair with boxwood and of Indians with combed hair, and Seneca of combing a jutting beard.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Columella uses it of a lettuce with purple, combed-out leaves.^(OLD 2012) It also meant to comb something off: Virgil and Pliny the Elder say that the Seres comb fine fleeces from the leaves of trees, and Pliny uses it of what sticks to a tree being combed off with iron.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Pliny also speaks of the art of combing out flax.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Lewis and Short call it very rare.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it ironically of a thrashing.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the Seres combing fleeces from leaves.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of combing the hair.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of combing a beard.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of lettuce leaves.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|comb]] thoroughly, comb out or down.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(ironic)'' To give a [[m|en|thrashing]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

+ # To comb off, away.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # To [[m|en|card]], [[m|en|hackle]] (flax).^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pectō]]

+ * [[pecten]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}