On the Latin Language

M. TERENTIUS VARRO ON THE LATIN LANGUAGE.

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF THE ORIGINS OF WORDS.

TO CICERO.

BOOK IV. EXPLICIT. BOOK V BEGINS.

A decorative initial "Q" marks the beginning of the text. I have decided to explain in six books how words were imposed upon things in the Latin language. I have done three before this one, which I sent to Septumius, in which there is [a discussion] of the discipline which they call etymology. What was said against these things [is in] the first volume; what [was said] for them, the second; what [was said] about them, the third. In these, I shall write to you from what things words were imposed in the Latin language, and those which are in usage among the poets, of what nature each word is, and how a word was imposed [by way of] "to square" and "to in-square." And so, "to square" is tenacity with following, it shows [that it comes] from "to strive." "To in-square" is said to be imposed when it is demonstrated in what [place] one ought not to strive, and [yet one] strives; this is tenacity. If one persists in what one ought to remain, this is perseverance. The former part, where they investigate why and whence words are, the Greeks call etymology. The latter part, [is] PERI SEMAINOMENON concerning things signified; about which two things I shall speak promiscuously in these books, but more briefly about the latter. Which are more obscure for the reason that not every imposition of words exists, because antiquity has destroyed some; nor is that which exists imposed without limit; nor does everything that is rightly