Etymologically
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auctio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈau̯k.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈau̯k.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

auctiō f (genitive auctiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from augeō “to increase” with the suffix -tiō, since the bids rise.[2][1][3] Köbler traces ⟨augeō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewg- (“to increase”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[4] The OLD's earliest citation for the property sold is from Cicero.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant a public sale, an auction, as Cicero's auctiōnem facere and īnstituere, and by metonymy the goods sold, the catalogue, or the proceeds.[2][5] The TLL cites the Bellum Africum for the royal auction held at Zama.[6] In Tacitus and Macrobius it also meant an increase, as auctiō frūmentī et tribūtōrum “the increase of grain levies and tribute”.[7]

In Medieval Latin it meant an augmentation, enlargement.[8] British Medieval Latin used it of an auction and of an enlargement.[9] English auction came in the 1590s.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has the word.[4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses auctiōnem facere.[5][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of an increase.[7][4]
  • 1590s – English auction is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A public sale, auction.[2]
  2. Goods for sale; a catalogue; the proceeds.[2]
  3. An increase.[7]

Word family

  • auctionalis
  • auctiōnārius
  • auctiōnor
  • coauctio

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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