actio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈaːk.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈak.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

āctiō f (genitive āctiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin agō (“to drive, do”) + -tiō.^[2][1] The verb agō is inherited from Proto-Italic *ag-e/o- (“to do, act”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-e/o- (“to drive, lead”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro.^[3] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant activity, doing, the conduct of life (āctiō vītae), and grātiārum āctiō was the giving of thanks.^[2] From this it was an act or deed, a proposal or policy, and the delivery of an orator, which Cicero says must be varied and full of feeling.^[2] It also meant a speech, and in law a legal process or suit and the plea in its set form.^[2] In drama it was the action or plot.^[1]

In medieval Latin it was a lawsuit, judicial revenue, a session of a synod and a public office.^[5] It was borrowed into Italian azione and French action, and English action first meant “cause for a lawsuit” in the mid-14th century.^[1][6]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses the word.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of an orator's delivery and of lawsuits.^[2][4]
• Middle Ages – It is used of a session of a synod.^[5]
• mid-14th century – English action “cause for a lawsuit” is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. Activity, action, doing, grātiārum āctiō, giving of thanks.^[2]
2. An act, deed.^[2]
3. A proposal; a course of action, policy.^[2]
4. (rhetoric) Delivery.^[2]
5. A speech.^[2]
6. (law) A lawsuit; a plea in set form.^[2]
7. (drama) The plot.^[1]
8. (Medieval Latin) A session of a synod; a public office.^[5]

Word family

• actiuncula

Related words

• agō
• āctor
• English action
• English act
• English active

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com