prex Latin · revision 5633

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈprɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prex''' ''f'' (genitive precis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*prek-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*preḱ-|t=question]], a root noun of the root *preḱ- “to ask” of [[poscō]] “to demand” and [[procus]] “suitor”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Cognate with [[sa|प्राश्|tr=prā́ś-|t=questioning, dispute]], [[ae|𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬁|tr=frasā-|t=question]] and [[cy|rheg|t=gift; curse]], and the OLD compares [[de|fragen|t=to ask]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose captive begs “by this prayer” (''per precem'').^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used mostly in the plural ''precēs'', the nominative and genitive singular being found only in grammarians.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant an entreaty or request in general, and especially a prayer to a god, as Plautus' prayers to Venus.^(OLD 2012) Christian Latin used it for prayers and the ''prex sacerdōtālis'', the canon of the Mass.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ In medieval law it was a labour service done on request and a tallage, after the German ''bede''.^(Niermeyer 1976) Its verb [[precor]] became Vulgar Latin *''precāre'' and Old French ''preier'', the source of [[en|pray]] in the early 13th century, ''precārius'' “obtained by entreaty” gave [[en|precarious]] in the 1640s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''per precem'' and speaks of prayers to Venus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''pray'' is recorded, from ''precārī'' through French.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – English ''precarious'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|entreaty]], request, [[m|en|supplication]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|prayer]] (to a god).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A labour service on request; a [[m|en|tallage]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' ''prex sacerdōtālis'', the canon of the Mass.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[precārius]]

+ * [[precāria]]

+ * [[precor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[procō]]

+ * [[procor]]

+ * [[procāx]]

+ * [[poscō]]

+ * [[procus]]

+ * [[en|pray]]

+ * [[en|precarious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}