Habere + pp and the Origin of the Periphrastic Perfect

Abstract In this paper, I discuss the use of habere + perfect participle in Latin. Four different types of lexical habere + pp constructions are identified, what I call the adnominal construction, the resultative construction, the affectee type and the ‘consider’ type. In addition, we find examples that can only be analysed as the periphrastic perfect already in archaic Latin. The periphrastic perfect, I argue, originated through reanalysis of the resultative construction, but perception/cognition verbs cannot have been essential for this reanalysis, contrary to common belief.