Etymologically
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alloco

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈal.lɔ.koː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈal.lo.ko][1]

Forms

allocō (present infinitive allocāre, perfect active allocāvī, supine allocātum); first conjugation[1] Also spelled adlocō.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin ad- + locō (“to place”),[1][3][4] a verb formed from locus (“place”).[4] The DMLBS compares Old French aloer.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The MLW finds it in Frankish formularies, where bishops and abbots are addressed as sēdibus allocātīs, “seated” on their sees, and in Otloh, where one manuscript has adlocāvit for collocāvit in the sense “set level with” the leading men of a people.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In England it became a word of estate accounts and law.[3] From 1222 it means to place or store things, such as grain in a barn; from the 1250s to let or hire out, to take on hire, and to hire labourers.[3][6] From 1233 royal writs ordered the barons of the Exchequer to allocāre, to allow a sum in someone's account; from 1258 it also means to admit something as valid in court, such as an excuse for absence.[3][6] Niermeyer adds the senses “acknowledge a document as valid” and “deduct from the account”.[6]

Through Anglo-French alouer it is the source of English allow, recorded from the early 14th century; allocate, from the 1630s, comes from allocāte, the imperative with which writs authorising payment began.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1010–c. 1070 – Otloh uses it in the sense “set level with”.[2][5]
  • 1222 – An Essex account uses it of storing grain in a barn.[3]
  • 1233 – A royal mandate tells the barons of the Exchequer to allow a sum in an account.[3]
  • 1253 – It is used of letting land.[3]
  • early 14th century – English allow appears, through Anglo-French.[4]
  • 1630s – English allocate is formed from the imperative allocāte.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Medieval Latin) To set level with; in the passive participle, seated.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) To place, stow, store.[3]
  3. (Medieval Latin) To let, hire out; to take on hire, hire.[3][6][1]
  4. (Medieval Latin) To allow a sum in an account, credit; to deduct from the account.[3][6]
  5. (Medieval Latin, law) To allow, admit as valid.[3][6]
  6. (Medieval Latin) To allocate.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
  4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill