compulsio

Forms

compulsiō f (genitive compulsiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin compellō¹ (“to drive together, compel”) + -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL finds it from Ulpian on,^[3] who died before 223 AD,^[4] as a legal term for compulsion or constraint in the Digest.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

An inscription of the time of Constantine spells it conpulsionem.^[3] Cassiodorus uses it for dunning, the pressing of debtors.^[5]

In medieval Latin it meant a conflict and coercion or force;^[6] the MLW adds a striking or beating, the ringing of bells, and in public law an enforcement measure and the collection of debts.^[7] In British legal texts it was also distraint, attachment or a subpoena.^[8] English borrowed it in the early 15th century through Old French.^[9]

Timeline

• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it as a legal term.^[3][4]
• c. 485–c. 580 AD – Cassiodorus uses it for dunning.^[5][4]
• 1054–1079 – A charter of the bishops of Hildesheim uses it for the ringing of bells.^[7][4]
• early 15th century – English borrows it as compulsion, through Old French.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. (law) Compulsion, constraint.^[2][5]
2. (Late Latin) Dunning, pressing for payment.^[5]
3. (Medieval Latin) A conflict; coercion, force.^[6]
4. (Medieval Latin) A striking; the ringing of bells.^[7]
5. (Medieval Latin, law) Enforcement, collection of debts; distraint, subpoena.^[7][8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ a b 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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com