appellatio

Forms

appellātiō f (genitive appellātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin appellō (“to address, call”) + -tiō.^[2][1] De Vaan lists appellō “to speak to” among the derivatives of pellō, which he traces to Proto-Italic *pelna- (“to approach”) and Proto-Indo-European *pl-n(e)-h₂- (“to approach”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first quotation is from Cato, who complains that they foul us more than others with the name Opici.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is a name, designation or term, and a mere name as against substance: Suetonius reports the saying that the Republic was nothing, a name without body or form.^[2] It is a title of rank, as in Cicero's titles of kings were for sale, and in grammar Quintilian uses it for a common noun.^[2] Cicero uses it of pronunciation, a smooth pronunciation of letters.^[2] In law it is an appeal to a higher authority, as Cicero's appeal to the tribunes, and ex appellātiōne on appeal;^[2][4] Livy writes of the right of appeal against officials.^[2][4] Any plea can be so called: Caesar has Quintilius take the occasion of an appeal to beg the soldiers.^[2][4] Church Latin glosses it appellation and appeal,^[5] and in Medieval Latin it is a complaint or legal action.^[6] English appellation appears in the mid-15th century.^[7]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato of the name Opici.^[2][8]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero of titles, pronunciation and appeals.^[2][8]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar of an appeal to soldiers.^[2][4][8]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of the common noun.^[2][8]
• mid-15th century – English appellation.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A name, designation, term; a mere name.^[2][1][5]
2. A title of rank.^[2][1]
3. (grammar) A common noun.^[2]
4. Pronunciation.^[2][1]
5. (law) An appeal to a higher authority; any appeal or plea.^[2][4][1][5]
6. (Medieval Latin) A complaint, legal action.^[6]

Related words

• appellō
• English appellation

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de