verbthird conjugation, no supine stem
poscō
poscō (present infinitive poscere, perfect active poposcī or peposcī)
Classical[ˈpɔs.koː]Ecclesiastical[ˈpɔs.ko]
№ 487 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- to beg, to demand, to request, to desire
Poscor aliquid.
Something is asked of me.Poscor meum Laelapa.
They demand of me my Laelaps. - to demand for punishment, to ask the surrender of
- to call someone
Ego poscor Olympo!
It is I that Olympus summons!Ad te confugio et supplex tua numina posco.
To you I have recourse and, as a suppliant, I call on your divine power. - to ask in marriage, to demand one's hand
Filiam tuam mihi uxorem posco.
I demand your daughter's hand in marriage.
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
vōce magnā petō; nōn rogat sed clāmat quī poscit.poscō -ere poposcī — in Mille Verba, Mercātus
flāgitō, ēnīxē petōposcō -ere — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 12
fortiter petōposcō -ere — in Metamorphoses I, †
demands
poscit — in Seneca, ch. IX
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Petere · Rogare · Postulare · Exigere · Poscere · Flagitare
1. Petere and rogare are the most general expressions for asking any thing, whether as a request or as a demand, and stand therefore in the middle between poscere and orare, yet somewhat nearer to a request; petere (from ποθεῖν) generally refers to the object which is wished for; whereas rogare to the person who is applied to; hence we say, petere aliquid ab aliquo, but rogare aliquem aliquid. Cic. Verr. * * Iste petit a rege, et cum pluribus verbis rogat, uti ad se mittat. Planc. 10, 25. Phil. ii. 30. Fam. ix. 8. and ii. 6. Ne id quod petat, exigere magis quam rogare videatur. Pseudoquintil. Decl. 286. Curt. iv. 1, 8. 2. Postulare and exigere denote simply a demand, without any enhancing accessory notion, as a quiet utterance of the will; postulare (diminutive of πόθος) more as a wish and will; exigere, more as a just claim; whereas poscere and flagitare, as an energetic demand; poscere (from πόθος) with decision, with a feeling of right or power; flagitare, with importunity, in consequence of a passionate and impatient eagerness. Tac. Hist. ii. 39. Othone per literas flagitante ut maturarent, militibus ut imperator pugnæ adesset poscentibus; plerique copias trans Padum agentes acciri postulabant. Cic. Verr. iii. 34. Incipiunt postulare, poscere, minari. Planc. 19. Poscere atque etiam flagitare crimen. Legg. i. 5. Postulatur a te jamdiu vel flagitatur potius historia. (v. 230.)
Conjugation conjugation 3 no-supine
| form | present | imperfect | future | perfect | pluperfect | fut. perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | poscō | poscēbam | poscam | poposcī peposcī | poposceram peposceram | poposcerō peposcerō |
| 2nd sg. | poscis | poscēbās | poscēs | poposcistī peposcistī | poposcerās peposcerās | poposceris peposceris |
| 3rd sg. | poscit | poscēbat | poscet | poposcit peposcit | poposcerat peposcerat | poposcerit peposcerit |
| 1st pl. | poscimus | poscēbāmus | poscēmus | poposcimus peposcimus | poposcerāmus peposcerāmus | poposcerimus peposcerimus |
| 2nd pl. | poscitis | poscēbātis | poscētis | poposcistis peposcistis | poposcerātis peposcerātis | poposceritis peposceritis |
| 3rd pl. | poscunt | poscēbant | poscent | poposcērunt poposcēre, peposcērunt, peposcēre | poposcerant peposcerant | poposcerint peposcerint |
active subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect | perfect | pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | poscam | poscerem | poposcerim peposcerim | poposcissem peposcissem |
| 2nd sg. | poscās | poscerēs | poposcerīs peposcerīs | poposcissēs peposcissēs |
| 3rd sg. | poscat | posceret | poposcerit peposcerit | poposcisset peposcisset |
| 1st pl. | poscāmus | poscerēmus | poposcerīmus peposcerīmus | poposcissēmus peposcissēmus |
| 2nd pl. | poscātis | poscerētis | poposcerītis peposcerītis | poposcissētis peposcissētis |
| 3rd pl. | poscant | poscerent | poposcerint peposcerint | poposcissent peposcissent |
passive indicative
| form | present | imperfect | future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | poscor | poscēbar | poscar |
| 2nd sg. | posceris poscere | poscēbāris poscēbāre | poscēris poscēre |
| 3rd sg. | poscitur | poscēbātur | poscētur |
| 1st pl. | poscimur | poscēbāmur | poscēmur |
| 2nd pl. | posciminī | poscēbāminī | poscēminī |
| 3rd pl. | poscuntur | poscēbantur | poscentur |
passive subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | poscar | poscerer |
| 2nd sg. | poscāris poscāre | poscerēris poscerēre |
| 3rd sg. | poscātur | poscerētur |
| 1st pl. | poscāmur | poscerēmur |
| 2nd pl. | poscāminī | poscerēminī |
| 3rd pl. | poscantur | poscerentur |
imperative
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| pres. 2nd sg. | posce | poscere |
| pres. 2nd pl. | poscite | posciminī |
| fut. 2nd sg. | poscitō | poscitor |
| fut. 3rd sg. | poscitō | poscitor |
| fut. 2nd pl. | poscitōte | — |
| fut. 3rd pl. | poscuntō | poscuntor |
infinitives & participles
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| present infinitive | poscere | poscī |
| perfect infinitive | poposcisse peposcisse | — |
| present participle | poscēns | — |
| future participle | — | poscendus poscundus |
gerundposcendī, poscendō, poscendum
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- quaestionem poscere (Fin. 2. 1. 1)
- to get a question submitted to one.
posco, pŏposci, 3 (old
I. perf. peposci, Val. Antias ap. Gell. 7, 9, 9), v. inch. a. [for porc-scere; Sanscr. root parkh- prakh-, to ask; cf.: precor, procus, procax], to ask for urgently; to beg, demand, request, desire (syn.: flagito, postulo, peto).
I. In gen., constr. usually with aliquid, aliquem (sibi): aliquid ab aliquo; also with a double acc., with ut, with inf., or with acc. and inf., or wholly absol.:
poscere est secundum Varronem, quotiens aliquid pro merito nostro deposcimus: petere vero est cum aliquid humiliter et cum precibus postulamus, Serv. Verg. A. 9, 194. (a). With acc.:
posco atque adeo flagito crimen, Cic. Planc. 19, 48; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 28, § 71: argentum, id. ib. 2, 4, 20, § 44; 2, 3, 34, § 78: pugnam, Liv. 2, 45, 6: nec mi aurum posco, Enn. ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 38 (Ann. v. 200 Vahl.): si quid poscam, Plaut. Aul. 2, 5, 10: pulvinos, Cic. de Or. 1, 7, 29; id. Planc. 19, 48: vades poposcit, id. Rep. 2, 36, 61; cf.: audaciae partes Roscii sibi poposcerunt, Cic. Rosc. Am. 13, 35: peccatis veniam poscentem (preceded by postulare), Hor. S. 1, 3, 75.— (b). With ab:
fac, ut audeat Tibi credere omnia, abs te petere et poscere, Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 53: diem a praetore peposcit, Val. Antias ap. Gell. 7, 9, 9: abs te litteras, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 16, § 36; 2, 2, 47, § 117: tutorem ab aliquo, Suet. Aug. 94: bibere a me poscis, Vulg. Joann. 4, 9.—(g). With a double acc.:
parentes pretium pro sepulturā liberum poscere, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 7: magistratum nummos, id. ib. 2, 1, 17, § 44: aliquem causam disserendi, id. Tusc. 3, 3, 7: claves portarum magistratus, Liv. 27, 24, 8: non ita creditum Poscis Quintilium deos, Hor. C. 1, 24, 12: cur me in decursu lampada poscis? Pers. 6, 61: poscenti vos rationem, Vulg. 1 Pet. 3, 15.—Hence, pass.: poscor aliquid, I am asked for something, something is asked or demanded of me (poet. and in post-class. prose): gravidae posceris exta bovis, they ask you for the entrails, Ov. F. 4, 670; cf.: poscor meum Laelapa, they demand of me my Lœlaps, id. M. 7, 771: nec tantum segetes alimentaque debita dives Poscebatur humus, id. ib. 1, 138: quod rationem pecuniae posceretur, Gell. 4, 18, 12; to be called upon or invoked to inspire a poet or to sing: aversus Apollo Poscitur invitā verba pigenda lyrā, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 76.(better reading poscis ab); cf. absol. Palilia poscor: Non poscor frustra; si favet alma Pales, Ov. F. 4, 721; so, poscimur Aonides, Ov. M. 5, 333: poscimur, Hor. C. 1, 32, 1.— (d). With ut:
poscimus, ut cenes civiliter, Juv. 5, 112: poscimus ut sit, etc., id. 7, 71; Tac. H. 2, 39: poposcit, ut haec ipsa quaestio diligentius tractaretur, Aug. Civ. Dei, 2, 21.—(ε) With inf. or acc. and inf. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): poscat sibi fabula credit, Hor. A. P. 339; cf.: immolare Fauno, Seu poscat agnā sive malit haedo, id. C. 1, 4, 12: esse sacerdotes delubraque vestra tueri Poscimus, Ov. M. 8, 708: contraque occurrere poscunt, Val. Fl. 4, 194; Pers. 1, 128; Claud. in Eutr. 1, 151.—In prose: ego vero te etiam morari posco inter voluptates, Sen. Contr. 1, 8; Arn. 7, p. 254. So, too, perh. (acc. to Stephanus's conjecture): vos fallere poscunt, Rutil. Lup. Fig. 2, 19, p. 181 Frotsch.—(ζ) Ellipt.: poscunt majoribus poculis, sc. bibere, they challenge to drink from larger goblets, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 26, § 66.—(η) Absol., to beg, be a beggar: improbus es, cum poscis, ait. Sed pensio clamat, posce, Juv. 9, 63 sq.—B. Of inanimate and abstract subjects, to demand, require, need:
quod res poscere videbatur, Caes. B. G. 7, 1: cum usus poscit, id. ib. 4, 2: quod negotium poscebat, Sail J. 56, 1; 70, 3; Quint. 11, 3, 162 et saep.— II. In partic.
A. To demand for punishment, to ask the surrender of: accusant ii, quos populus poscit, Cic. Rosc. Am. 5, 13; cf.:
hujus tantae cladis auctor Annibal poscitur, Flor. 2, 6, 7: nec poscitur auctor, Sil. 2, 44: poscendum poenae juvenem jubebat, id. 1, 677; so Liv. 9, 26.— B. In gen., to call one (ante-class. and poet.):
clamore hominem posco, Plaut. Curc. 5, 3, 5: gemitu Alciden, Sen. Herc. Oet. 1887.—Pass.: ego poscor Olympo (dat. of agent), Olympus calls me, summons me to the combat, Verg. A. 8, 533: poscimur, Ov. M. 2, 144.—2. In partic., to call upon, invoke:
supplex tua numina posco, Verg. A. 1, 666.—C. In selling.
1. To ask, demand for a thing, to offer at a price:
tanti quanti poscit, vin' tanti illam emi? Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 22: pro reliquis (libris) idem pretium poposcit, Varr. ap. Lact. 1, 6, 10.— 2. To ask, bid, offer a price for a thing:
agite licemini. Qui cenā poscit? ecqui poscit prandio? Plaut. Stich. 1, 3, 68; id. Merc. 2, 3, 101; Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 88.—D. To demand one's hand, ask in marriage:
eam si jubes, frater, tibi me poscere, poscam, Plaut. Aul. 2, 1, 38: filiam tuam mihi uxorem posco, id. ib. 2, 2, 42: tibi permittam, posce, duce, id. Trin. 2, 2, 103: sine dote posco tuam sororem filio, id. ib. 2, 4, 98: tuam sororem uxorem alicui, id. ib. 2, 4, 49.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
pōscō popōscī, —, ere, inch.
PREC-, to ask urgently, beg, demand, request, desire : Impius es cum poscis, ait: sed pensio clamat, Posce, beg , Iu.: Fauno immolare, Seu poscat agnā sīve malit haedo, if he require it , H.: argentum: pugnam, L.: peccatis veniam, H.: accusant ei, quos populus poscit, demands for punishment : dictatorem reum, require the prosecution of , L.: ego poscor Olympo, it is I that Olympus summons , V.: tua numina, invoke , V.: abs te litteras: parentes pretium pro sepulturā liberūm poscere: non ita creditum Poscis Quintilium deos, H.: Quid dedicatum poscit Apollinem Vates? H.: gravidae posceris exta bovis, they ask you for the entrails , O.: poscor meum Laelapa, they demand of me , O.: Parilia poscor, O.: poscimus, ut cenes civiliter, Iu.: poscat sibi fabula credi, H.: Esse sacerdotes delubraque vestra tueri Poscimus, O.: poscunt maioribus poculis (sc. bibere), challenge with larger goblets .—Of things, to make necessary, demand, require, need, call for : quod res poscere videbatur, Cs.: quod negotium poscebat, S.: terrae semina poscunt, V.
Origins
From Proto-Italic *porskō (“to ask for; request; demand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pr̥(ḱ)sḱéti (“to keep asking; to question”), from *preḱ- (“to ask; to ask for”) + *-sḱéti (“imperfective suffix”). Latin -ēscō (inchoative suffix) derives from this ending. Cognates include Latin prex (“prayer”), procus (“suitor”), Sanskrit पृच्छति (pṛccháti), Old Armenian հարց (harcʻ), Old Church Slavonic просити (prositi), German forschen, and Old English friġnan (whence English frain).