formido Latin · revision 5468

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [fɔrˈmiː.doː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [forˈmiː.do]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''formīdō''' ''f'' (genitive formīdinis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unknown.^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan and the OLD compare [[grc|μορμώ|tr=mormṓ|t=bogey]] and [[grc|μορμύσσομαι|tr=mormússomai|t=to frighten]], which would require [[itc-pro|*morm-īdō]] and a dissimilation of the first ''m'' to ''f''; the suffix [[-īdō]] makes it a counterpart of [[cupīdō]] “desire”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) An older view, given by Lewis & Short, connected it with [[firmus]], the fear that makes rigid.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In Plautus Bromia says that the same terror struck her and the other women.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant acute fear, terror or alarm, and then a thing that frightens, a horror or bogey, such as the terrors some people fear after death.^(OLD 2012) The verb ''formīdāre'', derived from the noun, meant to be afraid of something.^(OLD 2012) Virgil and Horace also used ''formīdō'' for a line of coloured feathers stretched to scare game, a scarecrow.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Medieval writers used it of terror and of misgiving.^(DMLBS) Its derivative [[formīdābilis]] “causing fear” gave [[en|formidable]] in the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the noun and the verb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of terrors feared after death.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Terror]], [[m|en|dread]], alarm.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A thing that frightens, a [[m|en|bogey]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|fear]], dread, be afraid (of).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[formīdolōsus]]

+ * [[afformīdō]]

+ * [[formīdābilis]]

+ * [[formīdāmen]]

+ * [[informīdātus]]

+ * [[praeformīdō]]

+ * [[reformīdō]]

+ * [[formīdulōsus]]

+ * [[performīdō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|formidable]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}