compatibilis

Forms

compatibilis (neuter compatibile); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin compatior (“to suffer with; to be compatible”) + -bilis, a medieval Latin adjective.^[2][3] Wiktionary analyses it instead as con- and patibilis (“endurable”), in the sense “enduring each other”.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest example in the sources is in a document of 1348, which allows someone to hold two or three church benefices together if they are compatibilia.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was above all a term of church law, used of benefices that one person could hold at the same time:^[5][4][6] in 1384 a bishop of Hereford orders an inquiry into whether certain clergy held other benefices and whether these were compatible or not.^[5][2] A Polish document of 1534 uses it more generally of an occupation that can be combined with another.^[4] Köbler also glosses it “sympathetic, compassionate”, the sense of its base.^[2]

English compatible, “able to exist together in harmony”, comes from it in the mid-15th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 1348 – A document uses it of church benefices that can be held together.^[4]
• 1384 – The register of a bishop of Hereford asks whether benefices are compatible.^[5][2]
• mid-15th century – English compatible is borrowed.^[3]
• 1534 – A Polish document uses it of occupations that can be combined.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin, canon law) Able to be held together with another (of benefices); jointly tenable.^[5][4][6][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) Compatible, able to be combined with something else.^[4][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) Sympathetic, compassionate.^[2]

Related words

• compassiō
• English compatible

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
5. ^ a b c d 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
6. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences