Etymology and origin of the Latin word compulsivus
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1275 charter of King Rudolf More words from the 13th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin compellō#1
Etymology tree
From the same root
Forms
compulsīvus (feminine compulsīva, neuter compulsīvum); first and second declension.[1][2] Also spelled conpulsivus.[3]
Etymology
It is a medieval formation from Latin compellō1 (“to drive together, compel”).[1][4]
Earliest recorded meaning
The earliest dated record is a charter of King Rudolf of 1275, which speaks of forced and heavy services (compulsiva et gravia servitia).[2][1]
Semantic evolution
Its sense is either active, compelling or coercive,[5][4][6] or passive, imposed by force.[2][3][6] Bracton has vis compulsiva, force that induces fear, and a British document of 1347 a witness under compulsion.[7] A Polish document of 1519 says that no compelling necessity lay behind a sale.[4]
Timeline
- 1275 – A charter of King Rudolf speaks of compulsory services.[2][1]
- 1347 – A British document uses it of a witness acting under compulsion.[7]
- 1519 – A Polish document speaks of a compelling necessity.[4]
Meanings
Adjective
- (Medieval Latin) Coercive, compelling.[5][7]
- (Medieval Latin) Imposed by force, compulsory; acting under compulsion.[2][7]
References
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^ a b Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
- ^ a b c d Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
- ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
Cite this entry
“Compulsivus.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/compulsivus. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.
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