Commoveo

Commoveo is a Latin verb of the second conjugation meaning to move, stir, or disturb, often with the sense of arousing emotion or provoking action. The principal parts are commoveo, commovere, commovi, commotum. It is typically transitive, taking a person or thing as its object, and it can express both physical movement and figurative stirring, such as moving or unsettling the mind or the crowd.

Etymology and nuance: the verb is formed with the prefix com- added to moveo, reinforcing the sense of strong impact or intensification. In classical usage, commovere commonly connotes awakening or exciting faculties, passions, or actions—e.g., stirring up feelings, provoking a response, or inciting a reaction in others.

Classical usage: commoveo occurs in sources ranging from Cicero to Livy, where it describes rousing the emotions, mobilizing people, or disturbing a situation. Typical expressions include animos commovere (to move or stir the minds), tumultum commovere (to incite a disturbance), or hostes commovere (to provoke the enemies). The sense can be positive, as in arousing zeal, or negative, as in disturbing peace or order.

Derivatives and English reception: a related noun is commotio, from which the English word commotion derives, signifying a disturbance or upheaval. The English verb commove, meaning to move emotionally or to disturb, is archaic or literary and rarely used in contemporary prose. Latin grammars and dictionaries, such as Lewis and Short, document commoveo and its various subcategorizations for scholarly reference.

See also: moveo; commotio; animus (mind, spirit); Latin verb conjugations.