perspicio Latin · revision 7273
16 Oct 2026, 13:23 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la speciō}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈspɪ.ki.oː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈspiː.t͡ʃi.o]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''perspiciō''' (present infinitive perspicere, perfect active perspexī, supine perspectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[per-]] “through” and [[speciō]] “to look”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of recognizing with the mind.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant to look through, see into, as Caesar's hedges “which could not even be seen through”, and in Pliny to see across.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant to inspect thoroughly, survey, scrutinize, and in Cicero to examine mentally, study.^(OLD 2012) From Terence it meant to discern with the eyes, and in Plautus to become aware of, recognize with the mind.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to look into, have regard for, examine.^(Stelten 1995) Its derivatives give [[en|perspective]], from Medieval Latin ''perspectīva'' “optics”, [[en|perspicuous]] and [[en|perspicacious]].^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of recognizing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of discerning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of seeing through.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of scrutinizing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To inspect thoroughly, scrutinize; to examine mentally.^(OLD 2012)
+ # To look through; to see across.^(OLD 2012)
+ # To discern, [[m|en|perceive]]; to recognize.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[perspectio]]
+ * [[perspector]]
+ * [[perspicabilis]]
+ * [[perspicāx]]
+ * [[perspicibilis]]
+ * [[perspicientia]]
+ * [[perspicuus]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[speciō]]
+ * [[en|perspective]]
+ * [[en|perspicuous]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}