Etymologically
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combino

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kɔmˈbiː.noː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [komˈbiː.no][1]

Forms

combīnō (present infinitive combīnāre, perfect active combīnāvī, supine combīnātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is a Late Latin formation from con- and bīnī (“two each, in pairs”).[1][2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL's first example is in the treatise on fortifying a camp ascribed to Hyginus, where two cohorts are drawn up so that the army can march out joined in pairs.[3] Zeno of Verona has it of things brought together into one sum.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

The glossaries render it with Greek verbs of yoking and joining.[2][3] Augustine tells of companions walking about two by two (combinati).[2][3][6] The grammarian Diomedes and Sidonius Apollinaris use it too.[7][6]

Medieval writers used it for tying things in pairs, placing them side by side, yoking men like oxen to a plough, and in philosophy, theology and music for combining.[8] In British sources it also meant grouped in pairs and to compile.[9] Through Old French combiner and directly from Late Latin it gave English combine (early 15th century).[4]

Timeline

  • before 380 AD – Zeno of Verona uses it of things brought together.[3][5]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine writes of companions walking two by two.[2][3][5]
  • c. 431–486 AD – Sidonius Apollinaris uses the participle.[2][5]
  • early 15th century – Borrowed into English as combine.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Late Latin) To combine, unite, join (properly, two things).[2][7][6]
  2. (Late Latin) To bring together into one total.[3]
  3. (Medieval Latin) To join in pairs, couple; to yoke together.[8][9]
  4. (Medieval Latin) To compile.[9]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ a b c 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