exploro Latin · revision 6884

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɛkˈspɫoː.roː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ekˈsplɔː.ro]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''explōrō''' (present infinitive explōrāre, perfect active explōrāvī, supine explōrātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is perhaps from [[ex-]] and [[plōrō]] “to cry out, wail”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Paulus' epitome of Festus says the ancients used ⟨explōrāre⟩ for ⟨exclāmāre⟩ “to cry out”.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary suggests the first meaning was to scout the hunting ground for game by shouting, and Etymonline also calls it originally a hunters' term.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of inquiring into a state of affairs.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used mostly in military contexts of reconnoitring a place, as in Cicero and Caesar's search for a site for a camp.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant to investigate, inquire into, to ascertain or make sure, to plan, and in Cicero ''explōrātum habēre'' “to know for certain”.^(OLD 2012) From Virgil onwards it also meant to put to the test, try out.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to explore, investigate.^(Stelten 1995) [[en|explore]] came in the 1580s, perhaps through French ''explorer''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of reconnoitring.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of testing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1580s – English ''explore'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(chiefly military)'' To [[m|en|reconnoitre]], inspect a place.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To investigate, inquire into; to ascertain; to plan.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''explōrātum habēre'', to know for certain.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To put to the test, try out.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To cry out.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[explōrātiō]]

+ * [[explōrātor]]

+ * [[inexplōrātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plōrō]]

+ * [[dēplōrō]]

+ * [[en|explore]]

+ * [[en|exploration]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}