versus Latin · revision 9341

16 Oct 2026, 18:23 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{homograph|1|line, verse}}
+ 
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *wert-}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwɛr.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɛr.sus]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''versus''' ''m'' (genitive versūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)
+ Plautus has ''vorsus'', a spelling used later as a rare archaism.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ The noun is from [[vertō]] “to turn” with the suffix [[-tus]], which forms action nouns: it was first a turning, then the furrow where the plough turns.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb goes back to [[ine-pro|*wert-|t=to turn]].^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, probably of a twirl in a dance.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ From a turn, the word came to mean the strip of ground a plough covers before it turns, a furrow, as in Columella, and then any row or line of things, as in Varro.^(OLD 2012) Cicero used it of a line of writing, and Ennius already of a line of verse, the sense that became the usual one.^(OLD 2012) Isidore explained that lines were called ''versūs'' because the ancients wrote as land is ploughed, turning back at the end of each line.^(Isidore)
+ 
+ In Medieval Latin it was a verse of the Bible said at the beginning or end of the Office, and a line of a charter.^(Niermeyer 1976) Old English borrowed it early as ''fers'', and late Old English ''vers'', reinforced by Old French ''vers'', gave [[en|verse]].^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a turn in a dance.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a line of verse.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a row.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a line of writing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore links it with ploughing.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A turn or twirl in a dance.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A [[m|en|furrow]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # A row, line.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A line of writing.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A line of [[m|en|verse]], (plural) verses, poetry.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|versicle]] of the Office; a line of a charter.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[versiculus]]
+ * [[versificō]]
+ 
+ {{homograph|2|towards}}
+ 
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *wert-}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwɛr.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɛr.sus]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''versus''' (not comparable)^(Wiktionary)
+ Also ''versum'', ''vorsus'', ''vorsum''; the ''vors-'' forms are those of Plautus, Terence, Cato and early inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ The adverb is the participle [[m|la|versus|t=turned]] of [[vertō]] “to turn”, used adverbially, “turned towards”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Its older form ⟨vorsus⟩ goes back to [[itc-pro|*worssos]], from [[ine-pro|*wr̥ttós]].^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD cites Plautus, Terence and Cato for the old forms in ''vors-''.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant in the direction of, towards, often after another adverb (''sursum versus'' “upwards”) or after a noun in the accusative, as in Cicero's ''Helōrum versus'' “towards Helorum”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ 
+ In Medieval Latin it became a preposition, “against”.^(Niermeyer 1976) English took it from that use as a legal term, [[en|versus]], in the mid-15th century, of one party against another.^(Etymonline) It survives in French ''vers'' and Italian ''verso'' “towards”.^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the form ''vorsus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it after town names.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-15th century – English ''versus'' is recorded in law.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adverb===
+ # Towards, in the direction of (after an adverb or a noun).^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Against.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[vertō]]
+ * [[en|verse]]
+ * [[en|versus]]
+ * [[en|verso]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}