proterve Latin · revision 36906

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la prōtervus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōtervē''' (comparative prōtervius, superlative prōtervissimē); adverb^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ The first syllable is long in Plautus and Terence and short in Ovid.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prōtervus|-ē|t1=bold, impudent]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan notes that the older form of the adjective was ⟨proptervus⟩, in Plautus and Pacuvius.^(de Vaan 2008) He favours Rix's reconstruction [[itc-pro|*propetes-wo-]], a blend of a form like [[grc|προπετής|tr=propetḗs|t=falling forward, rash]] and a stem meaning “provided with impetus”, and calls it at least better than other explanations.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Amphitruo'' says that a woman who has done no wrong should speak up for herself confidently and boldly: ''cōnfīdenter prō sē et prōtervē loquī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Plautus it can be neutral, boldly or without restraint, as in ''Truculentus'' of someone knocking at the door so boldly.^(OLD 2012) Terence uses it in the bad sense, impudently or shamelessly,^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) and Ovid, Seneca and Curtius do the same.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Augustine has the superlative, of an attack on the Christian religion made most shamelessly.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in the sense “boldly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it in the sense “impudently”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid has the comparative ''prōtervius aequō'', more boldly than is fair.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine uses the superlative.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|boldly|alt=Boldly]], without restraint.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # [[m|en|impudently|alt=Impudently]], [[m|en|shamelessly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}