subitus Latin · revision 7483

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la subeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsʊ.bɪ.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsuː.bi.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''subitus''' (feminine subita, neuter subitum, adverb subitō); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is apparently the perfect passive participle of [[subeō]] “to come up, approach”, that is “come up stealthily”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of what happens without warning.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant sudden, unexpected, of events, from Accius with adverbial force, and in Martial of persons or things suddenly appearing.^(OLD 2012) As a neuter noun it meant an emergency, as in Pliny the Elder, and ''per subitum'' suddenly.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero it meant hasty, impetuous, and of speech improvised, ''subitae dictiōnēs'' “impromptu speeches”, and in Ovid made in a hurry.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Tacitus it meant hastily raised troops.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''subitus'' means sudden as opposed to foreseen, while ''repēns'' is opposed to expected.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant sudden, unexpected.^(Stelten 1995) Its adverb ''subitō'' survives in Italian ''subito'', and Vulgar Latin ''subitānus'', from it, gave Old French ''sodain'' and [[en|sudden]] in the late 13th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) [[en|subitize]] was coined from it in 1949.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of improvised speeches.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of hastily raised troops.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 13th century – English ''sudden'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Sudden]], unexpected; suddenly appearing.^(OLD 2012)

+ # As a noun, an [[m|en|emergency]], ''per subitum'', suddenly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Hasty, impetuous.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Hurriedly made, improvised; [[m|en|extempore]]; of troops, hastily raised.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[subitāneus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[subito]]

+ * [[subeō]]

+ * [[en|sudden]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[repēns]], sudden as opposed to expected.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}