Etymologically
Log in

committo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 01:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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

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.