Etymologically
Log in

acceptio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:43. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [akˈkɛp.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [atˈt͡ʃɛp.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

acceptiō f (genitive acceptiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from accipiō “to receive, accept” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨accipiō⟩ is from ad- and capiō “to take”.[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨capiō⟩ to Proto-Italic *kap-i-.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite Cicero's Topica: there is no surrender or gift without acceptance.[5][6] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a taking, receiving, accepting, as in Cicero and Sallust.[2][6]

In Christian Latin acceptiō persōnae (after Romans 2:11) was respect of persons, partiality, favouritism.[7][8] Medieval Latin also used it for the meaning of a word, and for admission into a monastery.[7] In Ecclesiastical Latin it was acceptance, respect, distinction, and in canon law a candidate's acceptance of an office.[9] It gave French acception and the rare English acception.[1]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5][3]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it.[6][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A taking, receiving, acceptance.[2]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) acceptiō persōnae Favouritism, partiality.[7][8]
  3. (Medieval Latin) The meaning of a word; admission into a monastery.[7]

Word family

  • satisacceptiō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson