Etymologically
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appellatio

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ap.pɛlˈlaː.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ap.pelˈlat.t͡si.o][1]

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]

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