emercor Latin · revision 36874

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=98–115 AD, Tacitus|origins=itc-pro *merk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ēmercor''' (present infinitive ēmercārī, perfect active ēmercātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ex-|mercor|t2=to trade, buy]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) That verb is formed from [[m|la|merx|t=goods]], which de Vaan derives from a stem [[m|itc-pro|*merk-]] “trade, exchange”, also found in Faliscan and Oscan; he notes that the stem may have been borrowed from Etruscan.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word belongs to Tacitus,^(TLL) who uses it in the ''Annals'' of winning people over with gifts and bribes: a man buys the greed of an official, ''avāritiam praefectī ēmercātur''.^(TLL)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Tacitus uses it of corrupting enemies into breaking faith, of buying an adultery with lavish gifts and of buying access to the emperor.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ammianus takes it over from him, and also uses it with a passive sense: kings were won over with costly clothes, and shouts that were not paid for.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) The Latin Josephus ascribed to Hegesippus has it too.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of bribing officials and enemies.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it, also in a passive sense.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To win over (a person) by [[m|en|bribe|alt=bribes]], to [[m|en|corrupt]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Conte 2010)

+ # To procure (a favour or an advantage) by bribery, to buy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mercor]]

+ * [[merx]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}