describo Latin · revision 5128

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [deːsˈkriː.boː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [desˈkriː.bo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēscrībō''' (present infinitive dēscrībere, perfect active dēscrīpsī, supine dēscrīptum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dē-|scrībō|t1=down|t2=to write]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb ''scrībō'' is [[inh|itc-pro|*skreif-e/o-|t=to carve]], [[inh|ine-pro|*skreibʰ-e/o-|t=to carve]].^(de Vaan 2008) Manuscripts and editions often confuse it with [[dīscrībō]] “to distribute”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it twice: a painter could not have drawn a figure more truly, and a good man describes bad ways well.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to represent by drawing, to mark out, to record in writing, and to copy out a text.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From this it meant to describe in speech or writing, and to lay down laws, rights and duties.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short note that the sense “to copy” is frequent in Cicero, who speaks of a friend copying a book.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ It survives in [[it|descrivere]], [[fr|décrire]] and [[es|describir]].^(Wiktionary) Old French ''descrivre'' gave [[en|describe]], first “interpret” in the mid-13th century and “represent in words” about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of drawing and of describing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of writing down the deeds of the Roman people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of copying a book.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''describe'' “represent in words” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To draw, mark out.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To write down, record.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To copy out, [[m|en|transcribe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To [[m|en|describe]], represent in words.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To lay down, prescribe (laws, rights, duties).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēscrīptiō]]

+ * [[dēscrīptor]]

+ * [[indēscriptus]]

+ * [[dēscrīptus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dīscrībō]]

+ * [[scrībō]]

+ * [[en|describe]]

+ * [[en|description]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}