committo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔmˈmɪt.toː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [komˈmit.to]^[1]

Forms

committō (present infinitive committere, perfect active commīsī, supine commissum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin con- (“together”) + mittō (“to send, let go”).^[2][1] The verb mittō is inherited from Proto-Italic *meit-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *m(e)ith₂- (“to exchange, remove”), the meaning having developed from “exchange” to “give” and “let go, send”.^[3] A form ⟨cosmittere⟩ reported by Festus is not reliable enough for an etymology.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Pacuvius, of a monster put together clumsily.^[2] Köbler dates Pacuvius 220–130 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Its literal sense was to bring together, join, make continuous, construct and attach.^[2] From bringing forces together it meant to join battle (proelium committere), to set people against each other and to match them in a contest.^[2][1] It also meant to begin or carry on something, to entrust or commit something to someone, and to do something wrong, to commit a crime.^[1][5]

It survives in Italian commettere and Spanish cometer.^[1] English commit meant at first “give in charge, entrust”, in the late 14th century.^[6]

Timeline

• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of putting something together.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of joining the masts of towers.^[7][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of committing an army to battle.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English commit “entrust” is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To bring together, join, connect.^[2]
2. To construct by putting together.^[2]
3. To engage in battle, proelium committere, to join battle.^[2][1]
4. To set against each other; to match.^[2]
5. To begin; to carry on.^[1]
6. To entrust, commit.^[1]
7. To do (wrong), commit (a crime).^[1]

Word family

• commissiō
• commissor
• commissum
• commissūra
• fideicommittō

Related words

• mittō
• English commit
• English committee
• English commission

References

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