fretus Latin · revision 5789

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *dʰer-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''frētus''' (feminine frēta, neuter frētum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*frēto-]], probably [[inh|ine-pro|*dʰr-eh₁-to-]], a participle of a lost stative verb “to be holding”, from the root *dʰer- “to hold” of [[firmus]] and [[ferē]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Cognate with [[xum|frite|t=relying on]].^(de Vaan 2008) Ernout and Meillet's stative in *-ē- is needed because the root did not end in a laryngeal, and *bʰer- “to bear” is also possible.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus has “I rely on the gods, let us hope in the gods”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant relying on, trusting to, confident of, usually with an ablative, as Terence's Davus on whose advice he relies and Cicero's man trusting in his influence.^(OLD 2012) Later it took a dative, as Vitruvius' ''frētus memoriae'' “trusting to memory”, an accusative and infinitive, “confident that”, as in Livy, and an infinitive, “confident of being able”, as in Statius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein says ''cōnfīsus'' is trusting as a state of mind, while ''frētus'' is backed by something real.^(Döderlein 1874) Medieval writers used it for “strengthened by”.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says he relies on the gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence relies on Davus' advice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it with an infinitive clause.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relying on, trusting to, [[m|en|confident]] of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Confident (that), confident of being able (to).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perfreto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ferē]]

+ * [[firmus]]

+ * [[frēnum]]

+ * [[cōnfīdō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Fretus, -ūs'' (short ''e'') is a different word, “strait”, a variant of [[fretum]].^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein distinguishes ''cōnfīsus'' (trusting, subjectively) from ''frētus'' (relying on real support).^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}