computo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔm.pʊ.toː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔm.pu.to]^[1]

Forms

computō (present infinitive computāre, perfect active computāvī, supine computātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin com- + putō (“to reckon”).^[2][1] The simple verb first meant “to prune, clean”, and then “to settle accounts, reckon”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in Plautus (c. 250–184 BC), whose slave works out a plan by counting on the fingers of his right hand.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to calculate, count up or reckon, as Cicero's “he had counted the money” and Pliny's measurements of Gaul.^[2][5] It meant to take into account, as Columella's rainy days and holidays on which no ploughing is done, and in law to include in a reckoning.^[2]

Lewis and Short note that it is mostly post-Augustan.^[6] It survives as Italian contare, French compter and conter and Spanish and Portuguese contar, and through Old French it gave English count in the late 14th century and compute in the 1630s.^[1][7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of counting on the fingers.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of counting money.^[2][4]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of counting days.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English count is recorded.^[7]
• 1630s – English compute is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To calculate, count up, reckon.^[2][1]
2. To take into account, count.^[2]
3. (law) To include in a reckoning.^[2]
4. (law) To work out.^[2]

Word family

• computābilis
• computātiō
• computātor
• computus

Related words

• puto
• English count
• English compute

References

1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com