pedetemptim Latin · revision 9992

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=Plautus|origins=la pēs, la temptō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [pɛ.dɛˈtɛmp.tĩː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [pe.deˈtɛmp.tim]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pedetemptim''' (comparative pedetemptius, superlative pedetemptissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+ Also spelled ''pedetentim''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Fronto has a one-off comparative ''pedetemptius''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from the ablative ⟨pede⟩ of [[pēs]] “foot” and an adverb from [[temptō]] “to feel, try”, with [[m|la|-im]], so “feeling one's way with the foot”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis & Short cite Plautus' ''Miles gloriosus'', and the TLL explains its original use as of one who tests the ground with his foot.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant step by step, slowly, cautiously, literally as in Plautus, Pacuvius and Livy's elephants searching for fords, and figuratively by degrees, gradually, as in Lucilius, Cicero and Quintilian.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it figuratively.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 100–170 AD – Fronto forms a comparative of it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Step by step; [[m|en|cautiously]], gradually.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pēs]]

+ * [[temptō]]

+ * [[tentō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis & Short give ''paulātim'' and ''sēnsim'' as synonyms, and Gaffiot notes that ''pedetentim'' is the more usual spelling, especially in early Latin.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}