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affectio

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Pronunciation

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

Forms

affectiō f (genitive affectiōnis); third declension[1] It is also spelled adfectiō.[2]

Etymology

It is from afficiō “to affect, influence” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of a state of mind.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero, usually with animī, it meant a frame of mind, a mood, and a lasting disposition; it also meant a phase of a situation, and the position of the heavenly bodies.[2] In Tacitus it meant a feeling towards something, in Gellius liking, affection, love, and in Ulpian a purpose.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant disposition, feeling, will, volition.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for feeling, emotion, liking, inclination and tendency.[6] It survives in Italian affezione, French affection and Spanish afición, and through Old French it gave English affection about 1200, first meaning “desire, inclination”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a frame of mind.[2][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a feeling.[2][4]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of love.[2][4]
  • c. 1200 – English affection is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A frame of mind, mood.[2]
  2. A feeling, reaction.[2]
  3. A disposition.[2]
  4. Affection, love.[2]
  5. A purpose.[2]
  6. A phase; the position of the heavenly bodies.[2]

Word family

  • affectiōsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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. ^ 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