augmentatio

Forms

augmentātiō f (genitive augmentātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin augmentō (“to increase”) + -tiō;^[1][2] the TLL and Köbler connect it directly with the noun augmentum (“increase”).^[3][4] Both go back to augeō (“to increase”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eug- (“to grow”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL's earliest examples are a sermon of Faustus of Riez, in which the name Joseph is interpreted as “increase”, and Fulgentius;^[3] Köbler dates Faustus to the 5th century AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Late Latin it meant growth or increase: Boethius uses it in his translation of Aristotle's Topics beside its opposite, diminution,^[3][6] and the Rule of Benedict speaks of the abbot rejoicing in the increase of a good flock.^[3]

Medieval Latin used it for increase in number, size or strength,^[7][8] for an addition or supplement,^[7] and as a technical term in mathematics, music and alchemy.^[8] In charters it named the improvement and added value of a property,^[9] and in Tudor England the Curia augmentationum was the Court of Augmentations.^[7] English took over the word in the 15th century, partly through French.^[2]

Timeline

• 5th century AD – A sermon of Faustus of Riez interprets Joseph's name as “increase”.^[3][4]
• c. 500 AD – Fulgentius uses the plural of excessive growth.^[3][4]
• 529 AD – The Rule of Benedict speaks of the increase of the flock.^[3][4]
• mid-15th century – Borrowed into English as augmentation.^[2]
• 1542 – A deed names the Court of Augmentations of the revenues of the Crown.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Increase, growth, enlargement.^[6][10][3]
2. (Medieval Latin) An addition, supplement.^[7][8]
3. (Medieval Latin) Improvement or increased value of landed property.^[9]
4. (Medieval Latin) A technical term in mathematics, music and alchemy.^[8]
5. (Medieval Latin, in Curia augmentationum) The Court of Augmentations.^[7]

Related words

• augmentō
• English augmentation

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b c d e f 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
8. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
10. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.