adoptio

Pronunciation

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

Forms

adoptiō f (genitive adoptiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from adoptō “to adopt”, from ad- and optō “to choose”, with the suffix -iō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of adoption into a family.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant adoption into a family, especially of someone under a father's power, as in Cicero, and in Pliny the Elder grafting, or a grafted plant.^[2] In Christian Latin spīritus adoptiōnis was the spirit of sonship.^[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant adoption.^[5] Medieval Latin used it for sponsorship, godparenthood.^[6] It survives in Italian adozione, French adoption and Spanish adopción, and Late Latin adoptiō gave English adoption in the mid-14th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of adoption.^[2][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of grafting.^[2][4]
• mid-14th century – English adoption is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Adoption.^[2]
2. Grafting; a grafted plant.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Sponsorship, godparenthood.^[6]

Related words

• adoptō
• optō
• English adoption

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill