coitio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [koˈɪ.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koˈit.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

coitiō f (genitive coitiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin coeō (“to come together”) + -tiō.^[2][1] ⟨coeō⟩ is from con- and eō (“to go”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *ei- (“to go”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- (“to go”).^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence's Phormio, prīma coitiō est ācerrima “the first encounter is the fiercest”.^[2][4] Köbler also lists the Twelve Tables, which he dates about 450 BC; he dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a meeting, encounter, as in Terence; a coming together, assemblage, as in Cicero; a political combination or conspiracy, as in Cicero's letters to his brother; and in Apuleius a physical or chemical union of elements.^[2][6]

In Medieval Latin it meant an encounter, fight.^[7] English coition (1540s, “a coming together”; sexual sense from the 1610s) is from it.^[8]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of an encounter.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a political coalition.^[2][5]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of a union of elements.^[2][5]
• 1540s – English coition is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A meeting, encounter.^[2]
2. A coming together, assemblage.^[2]
3. A political coalition or conspiracy.^[2][6]
4. A union of elements.^[2]

Related words

• abitiō
• ambitiō
• circumitiō
• interitiō
• praeteritiō
• prōditiō
• rēditiō
• sēditiō
• transitiō
• coeō
• coitus
• English coition

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com