allegatio

Forms

allēgātiō f (genitive allēgātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin allēgō¹ (“to send, commission”) + -tiō.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it in the Verrines, in 70 BC, for a representation made on someone's behalf: people saw that every intercession with Verres was hard.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The TLL notes that Cicero used it of persons, while the jurists made it a technical term for things, a usage that then passed into private matters.^[3] In Apuleius it means an allegation or charge.^[2]

In Medieval Latin it named a deputation, a plea or argument in court, and evidence or the document that supports a claim.^[4][5] Du Cange records it for a subscription or note in one's own hand.^[6] Giannozzo Manetti uses it for a quotation from the poets.^[7] English allegation, a formal declaration in court, dates from the early 15th century.^[8]

Timeline

• 70 BC – Cicero uses it for intercession on someone's behalf.^[2]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius has it for the charges of both sides.^[2][9]
• c. 750 – A letter in the Boniface correspondence uses it for sending envoys.^[4]
• early 15th century – English borrows allegation.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A representation made on behalf of another, intercession.^[2][10]
2. An allegation, charge.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A deputation.^[4]
4. (Medieval Latin, law) A plea, argument, assertion; evidence or a document produced in support.^[4][5]
5. (New Latin) A quotation.^[7]

Related words

• English allegation

Usage notes

L&S notes that in the Classical period it occurs only twice, both in Cicero, once in a pun.^[10]

References

1. ^ a b 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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d 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
5. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
7. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
10. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press