Etymologically
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commentum

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Forms

commentum n (genitive commentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of commentus, the past participle of comminīscor “to devise, invent”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a scheme.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a scheme, device, as in Plautus, in Pliny the Elder an invention, and an intention.[2] From Terence it meant a fabrication, fiction, as his ipsīs commentum placet “they are pleased with their invention”, and Cicero's opīniōnum commenta “fictions of opinion”.[2][4] In Quintilian it apparently meant an argument.[2] In Late Latin it meant a comment, interpretation.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a fiction, falsehood, invention.[6] Medieval Latin used it for a commentary.[7] It survives in Italian commento, and Old French coment or Late Latin commentum gave English comment in the late 14th century.[1][5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a scheme.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a fabrication.[2][4][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of fictions of opinion.[4][3]
  • late 14th century – English comment is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A scheme, device; an invention; a design.[2]
  2. A fabrication, fiction.[2]
  3. An argument.[2]
  4. (Late Latin) A comment; a commentary.[5][7]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill