pronuntire

Pronuntire is a Latin verb meaning to pronounce, announce, or declare; to utter words or to proclaim publicly. In classical Latin the verb is given with principal parts such as pronuntio, pronuntire, pronuntiavi, pronuntiatus, and it belongs to the fourth conjugation. The infinitive is pronuntire, and the present indicative forms include pronuntio, pronuntis, pronuntit, pronuntimus, pronuntitis, pronuntunt.

Etymology and related terms: Pronuntire derives from pro- “forward” plus nuntiare “to announce” (from nuntius “messenger”). The related noun pronuntiatio denotes the act of pronouncing or a formal proclamation. The English word pronunciation ultimately descends from this Latin noun via Old French and Medieval Latin.

Usage and context: In ancient rhetoric and law, pronuntire referred to delivering a speech, verdict, or proclamation. The noun pronuntiatio appears in legal and ecclesiastical Latin to denote a formal pronouncement. In modern linguistics, pronuntiatio is the source of the English term pronunciation, used to describe the articulation of speech sounds. Example usage: Praetor sententiam pronuntiat; Cicero multa verba pronuntiavit.

See also: pronuntiatio, nuntius, nuntiare, pronunciation.