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altercor

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word altercor

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
220–130 BC, Pacuvius
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European *h2el-tero-
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin alter
French autre
Italian altro
Latin altercor
From the same root
French autrefois ← autre
French autrement ← autre
Latin altercatio ← altercor

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [aɫˈtɛr.kɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [alˈtɛr.kor][1]

Forms

altercor (present infinitive altercārī, perfect active altercātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1] An active altercō is found in Pacuvius, Terence and Apuleius.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin alter (“the other (of two)”);[3][1][4] Wiktionary analyses it as that word with the verbal suffix -icō.[1] The TLL thinks it more likely to come from alternus (“alternate”), through an assumed *alternicō.[2] De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of alius (“other”), and traces the base of the verb to Proto-Italic *al-tero- and Proto-Indo-European *h2el-tero- (“the other (of two)”).[5] Cognate with Oscan alttram (“other”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Pacuvius has someone ask why she has quarrelled with me here, cur illa hīc mēcum altercāta est?[6][3] De Vaan dates it from Terence,[5] who has cum patre altercāstī dūdum, “you quarrelled with your father just now”.[3]

Semantic evolution

It means to dispute, especially angrily, to argue or wrangle, with cum, inter sē or the dative:[3][6] Caesar has Labienus begin to wrangle with Vatinius, and Livy whole peoples disputing among themselves, and a maxim of Publilius Syrus says that in too much quarrelling the truth is lost.[3]

In the law courts it was the exchange of questions and answers with an opponent: Cicero says of one orator that in this exchange he had no equal, and Quintilian that men earned the name of advocates by their skill in it.[3][6] Apuleius uses it more loosely, for exchanging talk.[3] English altercate (1520s) is from its past participle, or a back-formation from altercation.[4]

Timeline

  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses the active form of a quarrel.[3][7]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of quarrelling with a father.[3][7]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of exchanges with an opponent in court.[3][7]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of Labienus wrangling with Vatinius.[3][7]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it for exchanging conversation.[3][7]
  • 1520s – English altercate is formed from it.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To dispute, especially angrily; to argue, wrangle, quarrel.[3][6]
  2. (law) To exchange questions and answers with an opponent in court.[3][6]
  3. To exchange conversation, converse.[3]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de

Derived terms

Cite this entry

“Altercor.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/altercor. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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