retro Latin · revision 9389

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Terence|origins=la re-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from ⟨*reter⟩, from [[re-]] “back” with the suffix ⟨-ter⟩, and the ending ⟨-ō⟩, like [[citrō]], [[intrō]] and [[ultrō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of a position behind.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant towards the rear, backwards, as in Virgil; behind, as in Terence; back to where one came from, as in Lucretius; in the opposite direction; and back in time, back to the beginnings, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) It was also used as a preposition, and it forms compounds such as [[retrōcēdō]] “to go back”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was a preposition “behind”, an adverb “in arrears”, and an indeclinable adjective “former”.^(Niermeyer 1976) Old French ''riere'' “behind”, from it, is in ''rieregarde'' “rear guard”, the source of [[en|rear]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of going back.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of moving backwards.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1600 – English ''rear'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|backwards|alt=Backwards]], back; behind.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Back in time.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' In [[m|en|arrears]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Behind.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[deretro]]

+ * [[retroagō]]

+ * [[retrōcēdō]]

+ * [[retrōdō]]

+ * [[retroeō]]

+ * [[retrōgradior]]

+ * [[retrōdūcō]]

+ * [[retrōpendulus]]

+ * [[retrorsus]]

+ * [[retrōuersus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[re-]]

+ * [[citrō]]

+ * [[intrō]]

+ * [[ultrō]]

+ * [[en|rear]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}