Etymologically
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abicio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word abicio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (iaciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aˈbɪ.ki.oː], [abˈjɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [abˈjiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

abiciō (present infinitive abicere, perfect active abiēcī, supine abiectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from ab- “away” and iaciō “to throw”, with the vowel of the stem weakened to ⟨i⟩ in the compound.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of throwing something away cheaply and of giving up an attitude.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

In Caesar it meant to throw away, hurl, and in Cicero to throw down, and reflexively to throw oneself on the ground.[2] In Cicero it also meant to vanquish, to degrade, to discard as useless, and to leave a body unburied or expose a child.[2] From Plautus it meant to throw away, sell too cheaply, waste, and to give up an attitude or intention.[2]

Its participle abiectus “cast down; mean” gave English abject about 1400.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of wasting and giving up.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of throwing away.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of throwing down and degrading.[2][3]
  • c. 1400 – English abject is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To throw away; to hurl.[2]
  2. To throw down; reflexively, to fall down.[2]
  3. To overthrow; to degrade.[2]
  4. To discard; to leave unburied; to expose (a child).[2]
  5. To sell too cheaply, waste.[2]
  6. To give up, abandon.[2]

Word family

  • abiectiō
  • abiectē
  • abjectus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Abicio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/abicio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·