Etymologically
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arbitratio

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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