obstruo Latin · revision 8314

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la struō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.stru.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔb.stru.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obstruō''' (present infinitive obstruere, perfect active obstrūxī, supine obstrūctum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''opstruō''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[ob-]] “against, in the way” and [[struō]] “to pile up, build”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of blocking light and choking the faculties.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to build up as a barrier, as in Livy, and in Caesar to block a road or entrance.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero it meant to block the light of a building and to choke the faculties, and in Seneca to stop the ears.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to close, stop up, hinder.^(Stelten 1995) It survives in Italian ''ostruire'', French ''obstruer'' and Spanish ''obstruir'', and its participle ''obstrūctus'' gave [[en|obstruct]] in the 1610s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of blocking a road.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1610s – English ''obstruct'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To build as a barrier.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To block, [[m|en|obstruct]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To shut out the light of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To stop (the ears); to choke.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[obstrūctiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[struō]]

+ * [[en|obstruct]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}