arbitratio

Forms

arbitrātiō f (genitive arbitrātiōnis); third declension^[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin arbitror (“to judge, think”) + -tiō.^[1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD records it only as a form mentioned by Aulus Gellius beside arbitrātus, which took its place.^[1] Lewis and Short give it the sense of judgment or will, equal to arbitrātus.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is rare in Antiquity: a constitution of 385 in the Theodosian Code entrusts a judgment to experts sub fideli arbitratione, though some manuscripts and editors read arbitrio there,^[3][5] and Boethius uses it for an opinion.^[3][5]

In Medieval Latin it became a legal word for arbitration and for an arbiter's decision, and in theology it meant careful deliberation.^[6][7]

Timeline

• c. 165 AD – Aulus Gellius mentions the form.^[1][2][4]
• 385 AD – A constitution in the Theodosian Code speaks of a faithful judgment.^[3]
• 1221 – A Westphalian charter uses it of an arbitral award.^[6]
• 1259 – A Tyrolean notarial charter uses it of arbitration proceedings.^[6]
• 1298 – A royal letter to the Pope uses it of an arbiter's decision.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Judgment, will (the same as arbitrātus).^[2][5]
2. (Late Latin) An opinion.^[3][5]
3. (Medieval Latin, law) Arbitration, proceedings before arbiters.^[6]
4. (Medieval Latin, law) An arbitral award, an arbiter's decision.^[6][7]
5. (Medieval Latin, theology) Careful deliberation.^[6]

Usage notes

In Martianus Capella the manuscripts have arbitrationem in the sense of a place for watching, where editors correct it to habitationem.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ a b c 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