imprecor Latin · revision 36815

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=70–19 BC, Virgil|origins=la prex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɪm.prɛ.kɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈim.pre.kor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''imprecor''' (present infinitive imprecārī, perfect active imprecātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|in-|precor|t2=to pray, beg]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan treats [[m|la|precor]] under the noun [[m|la|prex|t=prayer, request]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*prek-]] and [[ine-pro|*preḱ-|t=question]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis and Short think it perhaps not older than Augustus.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its first use in the OLD and Conte is in Virgil's ''Aeneid'', in a curse: ''lītora lītoribus contrāria, fluctibus undās imprecor'', “I call down shores opposed to shores, waves against waves”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used for calling down evil far more than good:^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca has wishing someone an unlucky voyage, Pliny the Elder dire punishments, Tacitus curses on Tiberius, and Suetonius death.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) With ''bene'' it could also mean to bless,^(OLD 2012) as in Petronius,^(Conte 2010) and Apuleius uses it of wishing someone good health after a sneeze.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Jerome uses it of wishing someone many years.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ It also meant to call on the gods in prayer, as in Hyginus' ''Fabulae'', Apuleius and Jerome.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Ecclesiastical Latin kept both senses, invoking good or evil on someone, and cursing.^(Stelten 1995) English ''imprecation'' (mid-15th century) comes from its noun [[imprecātiō]], and ''imprecate'' (1610s) was formed from that.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it in a curse in the ''Aeneid''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius uses it of good wishes.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of curses on Tiberius.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of wishing someone health after a sneeze.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of praying to God and of wishing someone many years.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To call down (evils) upon someone, [[m|en|imprecate]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) ''(absolute)'' to utter [[m|en|curse|alt=curses]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # To wish (good things) for someone; with ''bene'', to [[m|en|bless]].^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # To call on (the gods) in [[m|en|prayer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imprecātiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[precor]]

+ * [[prex]]

+ * [[en|imprecate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}