severus Latin · revision 4998

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *seǵʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [sɛˈweː.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [seˈvɛː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sevērus''' (feminine sevēra, neuter sevērum, comparative sevērior, superlative sevērissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*seχwēro-|t=steadfast]], which de Vaan, after Nussbaum, takes from [[ine-pro|*seǵʰ-u̯ēr-o-|t=steadfast, tough]], from a noun *seǵʰ-ur/-un- “holding”, from [[ine-pro|*seǵʰ-|t=to hold]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Cognate with [[sa|सहुरि|tr=sáhuri|t=victorious, strong]] and [[grc|ἐχυρός|tr=ekhurós|t=strong, secure]].^(de Vaan 2008) Walde–Hofmann and Meiser explained it as *se- “apart” and *wēro- “friendly”, as in [[vērus]], which de Vaan finds difficult in meaning; the Oxford Latin Dictionary follows that view.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was stern or strict in dealing with others, severe, and strict in one's own morals, austere, not frivolous.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Of subjects it was weighty or serious, and of punishment harsh or rigorous, as in Livy.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein says it means one who makes no jokes, against [[sērius]], what is no matter for joking, and calls it a moral quality against the intellectual ''austērus''.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was stern, especially in judgement, and of animals fierce.^(DMLBS) It was the cognomen of the emperor Septimius Severus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) English ''severe'' is from it, first of punishment.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses ''sevēritās''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1540s – English ''severe'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Stern, strict, [[m|en|severe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|Austere]], serious in conduct.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Weighty, serious (of subjects).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Harsh, rigorous.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sērius]]

+ * [[en|severe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}