This may seem like a rather silly question, but since ‘salve’ appears to be the imperative form of ‘salveo, -ere’ and ‘vale’ appears to be the imperative of ‘valeo, -ere’, I was just wondering what the root verb for ‘ave’ is and what it means. I’m trying to teach some complete beginners ‘Conversational Latin’ and I’ve decided this must be important, but am not quite sure what to do about it.
Help is appreciated - thanks in advance!
Echo
hello echomikeromeo,
ave is imperative (sg.) of “avere” (aveo, avere, - , -). avere = hail, fare/be well.
(h)aue (or OL auo) is thought to be a word of Punic origin. once regularised in Latin it was considered a formation from *(h)aueo (which did not exist - it was an artificial back formation) and thus it conjugates as such a verb was (Mamertius is the only ancient to have introduced a finite form, the rebel he was).
not much more can really be said,
~D
Thank you both for your help.
Echo