Etymologically

coincido

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 14:08. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [koˈɪŋ.kɪ.doː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [koˈin̠ʲ.t͡ʃi.do][1]

Forms

coincidō (present infinitive coincidere, perfect active coincidī, supine coincāsum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin con- + incidō1 (“to fall into or upon”), “to fall upon together”.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a scholastic word of the 13th century:[3][4] in the questions on animals ascribed to Albertus Magnus, the efficient cause and the matter are said never to coincide.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

Roger Bacon uses it of things that fall together into one essence or substance, and of the form that coincides with the efficient cause;[4] Wyclif applies it in logic.[4] Niermeyer glosses it “to coincide, to agree”,[6] and Etymonline notes that Medieval Latin used it in astrology.[2] English took it up as coincide, first for “be identical in substance” (1705) and only from 1809 for “occur at the same time”.[2]

Timeline

  • 13th century – Albertus Magnus (attributed) and Roger Bacon use it in natural philosophy.[3][4][5]
  • 1640s – Latin coincidere is used as a verb in English.[2]
  • 1705 – English coincide is first recorded.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Medieval Latin) To coincide, fall together into one; to agree.[3][4][6][7]
  • English coincide

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e 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
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson