Etymologically
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affectatio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [af.fɛkˈtaː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [af.fekˈtat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

affectātiō f (genitive affectātiōnis); third declension[1] Also spelled adfectātiō.[2]

Etymology

It is from affectō “to strive after” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨affectō⟩ is the frequentative of afficiō, from ad- and faciō “to do”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Seneca, of striving after something.[2] Köbler dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a striving after, an aspiration, as in Seneca; in rhetoric a straining after effect, affectation, as in Quintilian; and a laying claim to something, as in Tacitus.[2] Lewis & Short note that it is mostly post-Augustan.[5]

Medieval Latin used it for an act of conveyance.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for an effort.[7] English affectation (1540s, “studied display”) came through French or directly from Latin.[3]

Timeline

  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of affectation.[2][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of laying claim.[2][4]
  • 1540s – English affectation is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A striving after, aspiration.[2]
  2. (rhetoric) Straining after effect, affectation.[2]
  3. A laying claim.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) An act of conveyance.[6]

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 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ 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