LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
verbsecond conjugation

commoveō

commoveō (present infinitive commovēre, perfect active commōvī, supine commōtum)
Classical[kɔmˈmɔ.we.oː]Ecclesiastical[komˈmɔː.ve.o]

Meaning

  1. to move something in violent motion, move; shake, stir, shift, agitate
  2. to remove something from somewhere, carry away, displace
  3. broadlyto start, set in motion, stimulate, begin, move
    Facilius est enim currentem, ut aiunt, incitare quam commovere languentemAs they say, it is easier to rouse the running [horse] than to start the lazy one55 BCE, Cicero, De oratore 2.44.186–187
    audent ultro gradum inferre et clamore renovato commovent aciem1919 translation by B. O. Foster they even dared to press forward and, renewing their cheers, set their line in motion27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita 2.65
  4. figurativelyto drive back, dislodge, refute, confute
  5. figurativelyto throw into disorder, unbalance, unsettle, disturb
    Quintus tuus meusque, quod perleviter commotus fuerat, defuitQuintus, your and my boy, was absent because he was afflicted with a very slight indisposition106 BCE – 43 BCE, Cicero, Letters to Quintus 10.2
    Nihil me clamor iste commovet sed consolatur, cum indicat esse quosdam civis imperitos sed non multosThe outcry does not disturb me; in fact, it console me, for it shows that there are some ignorant citizens, but not many106 BCE – 43 BCE, Cicero, Pro Rabirio 6.18
  6. figurativelyto excite, rouse, stir up, affect, influence
    sese tamen et amore fraterno et existimatione vulgi commoveriNevertheless, I am moved by my love for my brother and by public opinionc. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico 1.20.3–4
  7. figurativelyto provoke
    qui me commorit (melius non tangere, clamo), flebitHe who provokes me (better not touch me, I shout!), shall weepc. 35 BCE, Horatius, Sermones 2.1.45–46
  8. figurativelyto awaken
    dormiunt. ego pol istos commovebo.They are sleeping. By heaven, I will rouse them163 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Heauton Timorumenos 731

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Conjugation conjugation 2

active indicative
formpresentimperfectfutureperfectpluperfectfut. perfect
1st sg.commoveōcommovēbamcommovēbōcommōvīcommōveramcommōverō
2nd sg.commovēscommovēbāscommovēbiscommōvistīcommōverāscommōveris
3rd sg.commovetcommovēbatcommovēbitcommōvitcommōveratcommōverit
1st pl.commovēmuscommovēbāmuscommovēbimuscommōvimuscommōverāmuscommōverimus
2nd pl.commovētiscommovēbātiscommovēbitiscommōvistiscommōverātiscommōveritis
3rd pl.commoventcommovēbantcommovēbuntcommōvērunt
commōvēre		commōverantcommōverint
active subjunctive
active subjunctive
formpresentimperfectperfectpluperfect
1st sg.commoveamcommovēremcommōverimcommōvissem
commōssem
2nd sg.commoveāscommovērēscommōverīscommōvissēs
3rd sg.commoveatcommovēretcommōveritcommōvisset
commōsset
1st pl.commoveāmuscommovērēmuscommōverīmuscommōvissēmus
2nd pl.commoveātiscommovērētiscommōverītiscommōvissētis
3rd pl.commoveantcommovērentcommōverintcommōvissent
passive indicative
passive indicative
formpresentimperfectfuture
1st sg.commoveorcommovēbarcommovēbor
2nd sg.commovēris
commovēre		commovēbāris
commovēbāre		commovēberis
commovēbere
3rd sg.commovēturcommovēbāturcommovēbitur
1st pl.commovēmurcommovēbāmurcommovēbimur
2nd pl.commovēminīcommovēbāminīcommovēbiminī
3rd pl.commoventurcommovēbanturcommovēbuntur
passive subjunctive
passive subjunctive
formpresentimperfect
1st sg.commovearcommovērer
2nd sg.commoveāris
commoveāre		commovērēris
commovērēre
3rd sg.commoveāturcommovērētur
1st pl.commoveāmurcommovērēmur
2nd pl.commoveāminīcommovērēminī
3rd pl.commoveanturcommovērentur
imperative
imperative
formactivepassive
pres. 2nd sg.commovēcommovēre
pres. 2nd pl.commovētecommovēminī
fut. 2nd sg.commovētōcommovētor
fut. 3rd sg.commovētōcommovētor
fut. 2nd pl.commovētōte—
fut. 3rd pl.commoventōcommoventor
infinitives & participles
infinitives & participles
formactivepassive
present infinitivecommovērecommovērī
perfect infinitivecommōvissecommōtum esse
future infinitivecommōtūrum essecommōtum īrī
present participlecommovēns—
perfect participle—commōtus
commōta, commōtā, commōtae, commōtam, commōtārum, commōtās, commōte, commōtī, commōtīs, commōtō, commōtōrum, commōtōs
future participlecommōtūrus
commōtūra, commōtūrā, commōtūrae, commōtūram, commōtūrārum, commōtūrās, commōtūre, commōtūrī, commōtūrīs, commōtūrō, commōtūrōrum, commōtūrōs, commōtūrum		commovendus
commovenda, commovendā, commovendae, commovendam, commovendārum, commovendās, commovende, commovendīs, commovendōrum, commovendōs
gerundcommovendī, commovendō, commovendumsupinecommōtum, commōtū

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

alicuius animum commovere
to touch a person's heart, move him.
commotum or concitatum esse
to be moved, agitated.
aliqua re moveri, commoveri
to be moved by a thing.
commotum perturbatumque esse
to be greatly agitated.
misericordiam alicui commovere
to excite some one's pity.
exspectationem sui facere, commovere
to cause oneself to be expected.
dolorem alicui facere, afferre, commovere
to cause a person pain.

com-mŏvĕo (conm-), mōvi, mōtum, 2 (contr. forms:
I. commōrunt, Lucr. 2, 766; commōrat, Turp. ap. Non. p. 278, 2; Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 51; commōrit, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 15, 1; Hor. S. 2, 1, 45; commossem, Cic. Planc. 37, 90; commosset, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 18, § 45; commosse, id. ib. 2, 5, 37, § 96; id. Fam. 7, 18, 3), v. a., to put something in violent motion, to move; both of removing from a place and backwards and forwards in a place; to shake, stir (freq. in every period and species of composition).
I. Lit.
A. To remove from a place, to carry away, displace, to start, set in motion, move: neque miser me commovere possum prae formidine, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 181; id. Truc. 4, 3, 44: facilius est currentem incitare quam commovere languentem, Cic. de Or. 2, 44, 186: columnas, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 55, § 145: castra ex eo loco, to move forward, decamp, id. ib. 2, 5, 37, § 96; cf. aciem, to set the line in motion, Liv. 2, 65, 5; 9, 27, 10: se ex eo loco, Cic. Fin. 5, 15, 42: se domo, id. Fam. 9, 5, 2: me Thessalonicā, id. Att. 3, 13, 1: te istinc, id. Fam. 6, 20, 3: agmen loco. to force back, cause to retreat, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 58, 20; so, hostem, Liv. 9, 40, 9; 10, 29, 9: cervum, Verg. A. 7, 494: molem, Val. Fl. 2, 33: nummum, i. e. to use in business, Cic. Font. 5, 11 (1, 1); id. Fl. 19, 44: ais, si una littera commota sit, fore tota ut labet disciplina. Utrum igitur tibi litteram videor an totas paginas commovere? id. Fin. 4, 19, 53.—Sacra, t. t., to move or carry about the sacred utensils, images, etc., for religious use, Verg. A. 4, 301 Serv.; cf. Cato, R. R. 134, 4: ancilia, Serv. ad Verg. A. 8, 3: tripodes, Sen. Med. 786.—Hence, humorously: mea si commovi sacra, if I put my instruments (artifices, tricks, etc.) in motion, Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 107. —Prov.: glaebam commosset in agro decumano Siciliae nemo, would have stirred a clod, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 18, § 45.—
B. To set in motion in a place, to move hither and thither, to shake, agitate, disturb.
1. Of things: magni commorunt aequora venti, Lucr. 2, 766: alas, Verg. A. 5, 217; cf.: penna commota volucris, Sil. 6, 59; Sen. Agam. 633. —
2. Of persons, with se: quis sese commovere potest, cujus ille (sc. Roscius) vitia non videat? can stir, Cic. de Or. 2, 57, 233: num infitiari potes te... meā diligentiā circumclusum commovere te contra rem publicam non potuisse, id. Cat. 1, 3, 7; Nep. Ages. 6, 3; Liv. 2, 54, 6; cf.: Lanuvii hastam se commovisse, id. 21, 62, 4.—
II. Trop.
A. (Acc. to I. A.) To move, drive back, distodge, refute, confute: nunc comminus agamus experiamurque, si possimus cornua commovere disputationis tuae, Cic. Div. 2, 10, 26: si convellere adoriamur ea, quae commoveri non possunt, id. de Or. 2, 51, 205.—
B. (Acc. to I. B.) To throw into disorder, physical or mental; to unbalance, unsettle, shake, disturb (rare but class.): adflantur alii sidere, alii commoventur statis temporibus alvo, nervis, capite, mente, Plin. 2, 41, 41, § 108: perleviter commotus fuerat ... (postea) eum vidi plane integrum, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 5, 2: Bacchi sacris commota, Poët. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 36, 80: commotus habebitur, i. e. mente captus, frantic, crazed, Hor. S. 2, 3, 209; cf.: commota mens, id. ib. 2, 3, 278; Plin. 36, 21, 40, § 152; and: commotus mente, id. 23, 1, 16, § 23.—
2. To move in mind or feeling, to make an impression upon, to excite, rouse, shake, disquiet, disturb, affect, etc.
(a). With abl.: commorat hominem lacrimis, Turp. ap. Non. p. 278, 2: aliquem nimiā longinquitate locorum ac desiderio suorum, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 9, 23: aut libidine aliquā aut metu, id. Off. 1, 29, 102; id. Font. 16, 36 (12, 26): ludis, id. Mur. 19, 40: quis enim, cum sibi fingit aliquid et cogitatione depingit, non simul ac se ipse commovit atque ad se revocavit, sentit, etc., aroused, id. Ac. 2, 16, 51: et amore fraterno et existimatione vulgi, Caes. B. G. 1, 20: adfectibus, Quint. 9, 4, 4: doctā voce, id. 2, 16, 9: cujus atrocitate, id. 6, 1, 32: vix sum apud me, ita animus commotu'st metu, Spe, gaudio, Ter. And. 5, 4, 34; Quint. 1, 2, 30: commota vehementi metu mens, Lucr. 3, 153. —
(b). Absol.: commorat omnes nos, Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 51: cum aliqua species utilitatis objecta est, commoveri necesse est, one must be affected by it, it must make an impression on one, Cic. Off. 3, 8, 35: nihil me clamor iste commovet, id. Rab. Perd. 6, 18: si quos adversum proelium et fuga Gallorum commoveret, Caes. B. G. 1, 40: in commovendis judiciis, Cic. de Or. 2, 45, 189; cf.: commotus ab oratore judex, Quint. 6, 2, 7: qui me commorit, flebit, provoke, rouse, Hor. S. 2, 1, 45: Neptunus graviter commotus, Verg. A. 1, 126: domo ejus omnia abstulit quae paulo magis animum cujuspiam aut oculos possent commovere, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 34, § 83; Quint. 12, 10, 50: dormiunt; pol ego istos commovebo, awake, arouse, Ter. Heaut. 4, 4, 8: porticus haec ipsa et palaestra Graecarum disputationum memoriam quodammodo commovent, stir up, awaken, revive, Cic. de Or. 2, 5, 20.—Of things: aes alienum, to demand, Tac. A. 6, 17: commotā principis domo, id. ib. 4, 52 init.: si umquam vitae cupiditas in me fuisset, ego... omnium parricidarum tela commossem? provoked, Cic. Planc. 37, 90. —
(g). With in and abl.: qui cum ingeniis conflictatur ejus modi, Neque commovetur animus in eā re tamen, Ter. And. 1, 1, 67: vidi enim vos in hoc nomine, cum testis diceret, commoveri, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 56, § 125: in hac virgine commotus sum, i. e. in love, Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 19.—
(d). With ex and abl.: nam cum esset ex aere alieno commota civitas, Cic. Rep. 2, 33, 58; Auct. B. Afr. 57, 72.—(ε) With ad and acc.: nec sane satis commoveor animo ad ea. quae vis canenda, Cic. ad Q. Fr. 3, 5, 4: homines ad turpe compendium, Auct. Her. 4, 40, 52.—(ζ) With ut and subj.: adeone me ignavom putas, ut neque me consuetudo neque amor Commoveat neque commoneat, ut servem fidem? Ter. And. 1, 5, 45: tua nos voluntas commovit, ut conscriberemus, etc., Auct. Her. 1, 1, 1.—
b. Of the passions, etc., to rouse, stir up, excite, produce, generate: belli magnos commovit funditus aestus, moved the waves of strife from their foundations, Lucr. 5, 1434; cf.: commovere tumultum aut bellum, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 8, § 20: misericordiam, invidiam, iracundiam, id. de Or. 2, 47, 195; cf.: commovere miserationem, Quint. 6, 1, 46; 10, 1, 64: magnum et acerbum dolorem, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 21, § 47: invidiam aliquam in me, id. Phil. 3, 7, 18: summum odium in eum, id. Inv. 1, 54, 103: bilem, id. Att. 2, 7, 2: multorum scribendi studia, id. N. D. 1, 4, 8: adfectus, Quint. 4, prooem. § 6; 5, 8, 3; cf.: adfectus vehementer commotos (opp. lenes), id. 6, 2, 9.—
C. In discourse: nova quaedam, to start new doctrines, adduce novelties, Cic. Ac. 2, 6, 18.— Hence, commōtus, a, um, P. a., moved, excited, aroused: genus (dicendi) in agendo, Cic. de Or. 3, 9, 32; cf.: Fimbria paulo fervidior atque commotior, id. Brut. 34, 129: incidere in rem commotam (i. e. amorem), Sen. Ep. 116, 5: animus commotior, Cic. Div. 1, 37, 80: commotius ad omnia turbanda consilium, Liv. 6, 14, 9 Weissenb. ad loc.: Drusus animo commotior, more violent, passionate, Tac. A. 4, 3; cf.: commotus ingenio, id. ib. 6, 45; and: Agrippina paulo commotior, id. ib. 1, 33: commoto similis, to one provoked, enraged, Suet. Aug. 51; cf. id. Tib. 51.—Sup. and adv. apparently not in use.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*m(y)ewh₁-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*m(y)owh₁éyeti
  7. Proto-Italic*moweō
  8. Proto-Italic*kommoweō?
  9. Latincommoveō

Perhaps from Proto-Italic *kommoweō, from *moweō. Given the possible cognate in Umbrian comhota, the Proto-Italic form can be reconstructed. By surface analysis, con- (“with, together”) + moveō (“move”).

Descendants
  • Catalancommoure
  • Englishcommove
  • Italiancommuovere
  • Portuguesecomover
  • Spanishconmover
  • Galicianconmover
  • Siciliancummòviri

In English words that came into English from commoveō

  • commotioncommōtiōnem

Quick answers

What does commoveō mean in Latin?
commoveō, a verb, means “to move something in violent motion, move; shake, stir, shift, agitate; to remove something from somewhere, carry away, displace”.
What are the principal parts of commoveō?
commoveō, commovēre, commōvī, commōtum (second conjugation).
How do you pronounce commoveō?
In classical Latin, [kɔmˈmɔ.we.oː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [komˈmɔː.ve.o].
Where does commoveō come from?
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? → Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm → Proto-Italic *kom → Proto-Italic *kom- → Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- → Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti → Proto-Italic *moweō → Proto-Italic *kommoweō? → Latin commoveō.