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certificatio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word certificatio

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
739–791, Codex Carolinus
Ultimate origin
Latin certificō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin certus
Italian certo
Latin certifico
Latin certificatio
English certification
From the same root
Latin certe ← certus
Latin certo ← certus
Latin incertus ← certus
Italian certamente ← certo

Forms

certificātiō f (genitive certificātiōnis); third declension[1][2] Often spelled certificacio.[3][4]

Etymology

It is from Latin certificō (“to make certain, certify”) + -tiō, a noun of action made from the verb.[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is in the Codex Carolinus, whose writers call the God of heaven as witness prō ampliōrī certificātiōne, for fuller confirmation.[2][1]

Semantic evolution

In legal and church use it meant confirmation, authentication: in a diploma of Otto I the grantor confirms everything with his own hand ad certificātiōnem.[2][5] It could also mean an assignment, and an inquiry or verification, as when a charter of 1228 allows the parties to have recourse to it if a doubt arises.[2] In English records it was a certification given by sworn men or officials, from the Curia Regis rolls of 1219,[6] then a written certificate and a guarantee or security.[6][5][3]

Scholastic writers used it for assurance and convincing proof: Albertus Magnus speaks of a demonstration of great force of proof, and writes that the concentration of the rays strengthens the sight.[2] Roger Bacon uses it of the verification of tables by instruments.[6] In Hungarian and Polish documents it was also a formal notification.[3][4][7]

Timeline

  • 739–791 – The Codex Carolinus uses it for confirmation.[2][1]
  • 1219 – The Curia Regis rolls use it of the certification given by sworn men.[6]
  • 1228 – A Rhineland charter uses it of verification.[2]
  • 1239 – A Hungarian document speaks of witnesses for the confirmation of boundaries.[3]
  • 1321 – An English record has a written certificate concerning the parliament at Westminster.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) Confirmation, authentication, certification.[2][5][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) An assignment, transfer.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Verification, inquiry; proof, testimony.[2][3][8]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A written assurance, a certificate.[6]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A guarantee, security.[5][6][3][4]
  6. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) Assurance, convincing demonstration; grounding, definition.[2][6]
  7. (Medieval Latin) A formal notification.[3][4][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  4. ^ a b c d e Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  5. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
  7. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  8. ^ Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

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Cite this entry

“Certificatio.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/certificatio. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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