par Latin · revision 745

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pār''' (genitive paris, comparative parior, superlative parissimus or parissumus, adverb pariter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Of unclear origin.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) If [[xum|pars|t=prescribed]] is related, it continues [[itc-pro|*parVs]], and the long vowel would come from *parVs > *pars > *parr, whereas Walde and Hofmann instead took it as a lengthened grade.^(de Vaan 2008) The traditional link with [[ine-pro|*perh₂-|t=to sell, exchange]], kept by Pokorny and Köbler, does not suit the meaning well,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Pokorny 1959)^(Köbler 2010) and de Vaan considers as an alternative a source *pās- connected with [[pareo|alt=pāreō]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus onwards and notes the superlative ''parisuma'' in a Scipio epitaph.^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus uses it of a token that matches exactly and of people “most alike”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective meant equal in size, number or degree, matching, and of numbers [[m|en|even]], as in the game ''par impar'' “odd and even”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It extended to people equal in age, rank or power, to things corresponding or proportionate, and to opponents well matched in a contest.^(OLD 2012) Used as a predicate it meant fair or right, as in ''par est'' “it is proper”.^(OLD 2012) Accounting gave the phrases ''paria facere'' “to settle accounts” and ''par pari respondere'' “to pay like for like”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ As a masculine or feminine noun it meant a companion, mate or match, and as a neuter noun a [[m|en|pair]], as of doves or gladiators.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In medieval Latin the noun meant a colleague, a fellow vassal, a party to a contract and a person of equal rank,^(Niermeyer 1976) the source of [[en|peer]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of matching tokens and of equals.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of things equal in strength.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a Latin word equal to a Greek one and of a pair of friends.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – As a noun it means a peer, a fellow vassal or a colleague.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ * c. 1300 – Through French it gives [[en|peer]].^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620s – English borrows it as [[en|par]] “equality of value”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|equal|alt=Equal]] in size, number, degree; uniform.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Level, balanced; corresponding in position.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of numbers) [[m|en|even|alt=Even]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Similar, like, matching.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Well suited, matched (of partners).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Equal in worth, age, rank or power.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Proportionate; equivalent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Equal to (a task or opponent), adequate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Well matched (of contestants and contests).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(as a predicate)'' Fair, right, proper.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A companion, an equal; a mate, partner.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # An adversary; a match, [[m|en|peer]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(neuter)'' A [[m|en|pair]], couple.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A colleague; a fellow vassal; a party to a contract; a person of equal rank.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[parilis]]

+ * [[compār]]

+ * [[dispār]]

+ * [[impār]]

+ * [[comparō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pāreō]]

+ * [[en|par]]

+ * [[en|peer]]

+ * [[en|pair]]

+ * [[en|umpire]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The proverb ''pares cum paribus facillime congregantur'' meant “like gathers most easily with like”.^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}