votum Latin · revision 3729

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₁uegʷʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwoː.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɔː.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vōtum''' ''n'' (genitive vōtī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[votus|alt=vōtus]], the participle of [[voveo|alt=voveō]] “to vow”, used as a noun; the participle was contracted from *wowitos.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The verb is [[inh|itc-pro|*wow-eje/o-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₁uogʷʰ-eie-]].^(de Vaan 2008) A Faliscan inscription has the spelling [[m|la|vootum]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Compare [[sa|ओहते|tr=óhate|t=praises]] and perhaps [[xum|vufru|t=votive]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) In Plautus a man says he wants to pay his vow to Venus.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was a vow to a god, a promise to give or do something in return for a favour, as in the phrases ''vota facere'', ''nuncupare'', ''suscipere'' and ''solvere'' in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) From this it meant a prayer, and a wish, desire or hope, as Sallust's “affairs going beyond his wishes”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Under the Empire ''vota'' were the public vows for the emperor's welfare, and it also meant marriage or a wedding.^(Köbler 2010) English ''vow'' came from it through Old French about 1200, and ''vote'' was borrowed in the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of paying a vow to Venus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of making and paying vows.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it in the sense “wish”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''vote'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|vow]], solemn promise (to a god).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|prayer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A wish, desire, hope.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' The public vows for the emperor.^(Köbler 2010)

+ # Marriage, a wedding.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vōtifer]]

+ * [[vōtīvitās]]

+ * [[vōtīvus]]

+ * [[vōtus]]

+ * [[voveō]]

+ * [[en|vow]]

+ * [[en|vote]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}