procerus Latin · revision 5790

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *ḱreh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōcērus''' (feminine prōcēra, neuter prōcērum, comparative prōcērior); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prō-|*cērus]], with a second part *k(r)ēro- “growing”, from the root of [[crēscō]] “to grow”, so “having grown up high”; de Vaan thinks a dissimilated *prō-krēros possible.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Schrijver doubted the link with ''crēscō'', and Rieken compared Hieroglyphic Luwian *zīra- “growth” and [[sincērus]] “of one growth, pure”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Ennius, whose woodcutters bring down tall pines.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant grown to a great height, tall or lofty, as Cicero's very tall poplars by a river, and of people tall, as Pliny's tall figure.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also meant long, as Turpilius' long arms and Cicero's long neck.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In rhetoric Cicero speaks of a long, drawn-out style.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Döderlein says ''altus'' is height as a measure, ''prōcērus'' height as grown.^(Döderlein 1874) Its noun ''prōcēritās'' gave [[en|procerity]] “tallness” in the 1540s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius speaks of tall pines.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 2nd century BC – Turpilius speaks of long arms.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of very tall poplars.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Tall]], [[m|en|lofty]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Long.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imprōcērus]]

+ * [[prōcēritās]]

+ * [[prōcēritūdō]]

+ * [[prōcērulus]]

+ * [[prōcērē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crēscō]]

+ * [[sincērus]]

+ * [[altus]]

+ * [[en|procerity]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''altus'' (high, as a dimension), ''excelsus'' (rising above others), ''celsus'' (towering) and ''prōcērus'' (tall, of growth).^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}