obviam Latin · revision 9330

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Plautus|origins=la ob, la via}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obviam''' (not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also written ''ob viam''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[ob]] “towards, in front of” and [[viam]], accusative of [[via]] “way”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline) De Vaan traces ⟨via⟩ to [[itc-pro|*wijā-|t=road]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of going to meet someone.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With verbs of motion it meant into someone's path, so as to meet, as in Plautus and Cicero's ''obviam fierī'' “to meet”, ''obviam īre'' was to face up to a danger or take countermeasures against it, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Without motion it meant in one's path, within reach, to hand.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant on the way, towards, against.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it with the dative, so as to meet, facing.^(DMLBS) Its adjective [[obvius]] gave [[en|obvious]] in the 1580s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero has ''obviam īre'' “to face up to”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1580s – English ''obvious'', from ''obvius'', is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In the way, so as to meet: ''obviam īre'' to go to [[m|en|meet]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''obviam īre'' To face up to, [[m|en|counter]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # In one's path, within reach.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[obvius]]

+ * [[via]]

+ * [[en|obvious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}