Etymologically
Log in

caedo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 23:54. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkae̯.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃɛː.do][1]

Forms

caedō (present infinitive caedere, perfect active cecīdī, supine caesum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *kaid-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂id- (“to cut, hew”).[2] Possible cognates are Armenian խայթեմ (xaytʿem, “to sting”), Albanian qeth (“to shave”) and Old High German heia (“wooden hammer”).[2] The Oxford Latin Dictionary and Georges compare Sanskrit खिदति (khidáti, “presses”).[3][4] Lewis & Short followed an older link with scindō “to split”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Twelve Tables use it in iūre caesus estō “let him be lawfully killed”.[3][2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to cut or fell trees and stone, to strike or beat a person, and to kill, slaughter or cut down in battle.[3][5] It was used of sacrificing victims, of defeating an army with heavy losses, and of breaking things.[3] Lucilius uses it obscenely of intercourse.[3]

In medieval Latin it kept the senses “to cut” and “to cut off”, of limbs and of wood.[7] Its compounds in -cīdō and the nouns in -cīda and -cīdium gave English decide and suicide.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it of lawful killing.[3][6]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato tells the farmer to cut oak leaves (frondem querneam caeditō).[5][6]
  • late 14th century – English decide is recorded, from dēcīdere “to cut off”.[8]
  • 1650s – English suicide is recorded, from New Latin suicīdium.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To cut, hew, fell.[5][1]
  2. To strike, beat (a person).[3]
  3. To kill, slay, murder.[3][1]
  4. To cut down in battle; to defeat with heavy losses.[3][1]
  5. To slaughter (animals or sacrificial victims).[3]
  6. To strike, break (things).[3]

Word family

  • abscīdō
  • accidō
  • ambecisus
  • ancaesus
  • ancisus
  • caeduus
  • caementum
  • caesa
  • caesim
  • caesiō
  • caesor
  • caestus
  • caelāmen
  • caelātor
  • caelātūra
  • caelō
  • parricīda
  • caedēs
  • English decide
  • English suicide

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com