temere

Temere is a term with distinct meanings in classical Latin and modern Italian, and it appears as a cognate in other Romance languages.

In Latin, temere is an adverb meaning "rashly, heedlessly" and sometimes "by chance." It is used to describe actions performed without caution or deliberation. The sense emphasizes spontaneity or imprudence rather than intention, and it is often discussed in relation to moral or prudent behavior in ancient literature. The etymology connects temere with a Latin root associated with rashness, and discussions of its origin sometimes reference related terms such as temeritas (rashness).

In Italian, temere is the infinitive of the verb meaning "to fear." It is a regular -ere verb, with common present-tense forms including temo, temi, teme, temiamo, temete, temono. It is used to express fear of something (temo la pioggia), fear for someone (temo per te), or fear that something will occur (temo che venga). The verb can be paired with di + infinitive to denote fear of doing something (temo di sbagliare) and with che + congiuntivo to introduce a feared event (temo che non sia possibile).

Beyond Italian, cognates exist in other Romance languages through the Latin timēre, though spellings and nuances vary. In Spanish and Portuguese, related verbs meaning "to fear" appear with similar roots, illustrating the shared lineage from Latin.

See also: timor, timēre, temeritas.