Aestimo

Aestimo is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning to esteem, value, judge, or estimate. In ordinary usage it covers valuing something in monetary terms, forming an opinion about quality or importance, or calculating an amount. The principal parts are aestimō, aestimāre, aestimāvī, aestimātum; present indicative forms include aestimō, aestimās, aestimat, aestimāmus, aestimātis, aestimant.

Etymology: The origin of aestimāre is uncertain, but it is a native Latin formation that yielded many derivatives in the Romance languages. In English, the verb estimate comes through Old French estimer from Latin aestimāre, and is closely linked to related nouns such as estimation and estimable.

Usage: Aestimo takes a direct object in the accusative to denote what is valued, as in aestimō hunc librum multum (“I value this book greatly”). It can convey valuing in monetary terms, estimating quantity or amount, or forming a judgment about someone or something. The passive form aestimārī means to be valued or to be judged. The verb is common in prose and scholarly Latin when discussing assessments, evaluations, or opinions.

Derivatives and related forms: aestimātiō (an estimation, assessment), aestimātor (an appraiser, estimator), aestimātiō (the act of valuing). Adjectives such as aestimābilis mean estimable; English derivatives include estimate, estimation, and estimable.

See also: censeō, arbitror, iudicium.