appositio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ap.pɔˈsɪ.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ap.poˈs̬it.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

appositiō f (genitive appositiōnis); third declension^[1] Also spelled adpositiō.^[2]

Etymology

It is from appōnō “to place beside, add” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨appōnō⟩ is from ad- and pōnō “to place”.^[3][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD and Köbler cite Quintilian.^[3][5] Köbler dates Quintilian c. 35–95/96 AD.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Quintilian it was a comparison, and an adding, and Gellius also uses it of an addition.^[3][6] In Caelius Aurelianus it was the application of a cupping-glass, in the Vulgate a setting out of food, and in the Historia Augusta the imputation of a crime.^[2][6]

Medieval Latin used it for the affixing of a seal to a charter.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for laying on, application, the posting of a guard.^[8] English apposition (mid-15th century) was first a grammatical term, a noun added to explain another.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it.^[3][5]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of an addition.^[6][5]
• 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it of applying a remedy.^[2][5]
• mid-15th century – English apposition is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A comparison.^[3]
2. An addition.^[6]
3. (Late Latin) An application; a serving of food.^[2][6]
4. (Medieval Latin) The affixing of a seal.^[7]

Related words

• appōnō
• pōnō
• English apposition

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e 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 d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ 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