Etymologically
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meditation

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌmed.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English meditacioun, borrowed from Old French meditacion (“thought, reflection, study”) and directly Latin meditātiō (“a thinking over”),[2][3][4] from the past participle stem of meditor (“to meditate, think over, reflect”) (see meditate),[2][4] from a frequentative form of Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to take appropriate measures”).[2] The Latin verb also had the stronger senses to plan, devise, practise and rehearse.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A discourse treating a subject, usually religious, in a meditative way: before 1225 in the OED.[5] Etymonline gives contemplation, devout preoccupation and private devotion, about 1200.[2]

Semantic evolution

The devotional exercise of contemplating a religious theme is from before 1340,[5] and continuous calm thought on a subject from 1390 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.[5][2] The theme of one's meditation is from 1560.[5] Today the word is also used of contemplation as a spiritual practice.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 1200 – contemplation, devotion.[2]
  • before 1225 – a meditative discourse.[5]
  • before 1340 – a devotional exercise.[5]
  • 1390 – continuous thought.[5]
  • 1560 – the theme of meditation.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The act or process of meditating; contemplation or reflection.
  2. Contemplation of spiritual matters, especially as a religious practice or devotional exercise.
  3. A contemplative discourse, usually on a religious or philosophical subject.

Word family

  • meditational
  • transcendental meditation

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins