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adicio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word adicio

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aˈdɪ.ki.oː], [adˈjɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [adˈjiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

adiciō (present infinitive adicere, perfect active adiēcī, supine adiectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1] It is also spelled adiiciō, and Manilius and Martial have a short first syllable.[2]

Etymology

It is from ad- “to, towards” 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 casting glances and of giving something extra.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to throw towards, to aim, as voices in Cicero, and with oculōs to cast one's eyes on something, covetously, as in Plautus; in Terence animum adicere meant to set one's heart on.[2] It meant to attach, to insert, and to mix in further ingredients.[2] In Caesar it meant to add structures, in Varro letters, in Vitruvius amounts, and in Plautus to give something more.[2] In Livy it meant to add a further task or a colleague, and in Caesar reinforcements; in Livy also to add in speech.[2]

Its derivative adiectīvus “added (to the noun)” gave English adjective in the late 14th century.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of casting glances and giving extra.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses animum adicere.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of adding structures and troops.[2][3]
  • late 14th century – English adjective is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To throw towards; to aim.[2]
  2. oculōs adicere, to cast one's eyes on, animum adicere, to set one's heart on.[2]
  3. To attach; to insert; to mix in.[2]
  4. To add; to give in addition.[2]
  5. To add (troops, a colleague).[2]
  6. To add in speech.[2]

Word family

  • adiectamentum
  • adiectīcius
  • adiectiō
  • adiectīvus
  • adjectus
  • superadicio

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 o p 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

“Adicio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/adicio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·