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concipio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word concipio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (capiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔŋˈkɪ.pi.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon̠ʲˈt͡ʃiː.pi.o][1]

Forms

concipiō (present infinitive concipere, perfect active concēpī, supine conceptum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from con- “together, wholly” and capiō “to take”.[2][1][3] Wiktionary takes it as a calque of Ancient Greek συλλαμβάνω (sullambánō, “to take together, conceive”).[1] Inscriptions have ⟨cuncaptum⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of grasping with the senses and conceiving a hope, and Cato, of containing and of solemn formulas.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to take in, absorb, contain, as Varro's nuts that a measure can hardly hold, and in Cicero ignem concipere to catch fire.[2][5] From Lucretius it meant of women and animals to conceive, in Varro of plants to be fertilized, and figuratively to produce, form.[2] In Cicero it meant to catch a disease and to contract a stain, and to grasp in the mind, imagine, devise.[2] From Plautus it meant to form an attitude, conceive a hope.[2] From Cato it meant to pronounce a formula, take an oath, and in Varro to declare war or strike a treaty.[2] In Cicero it meant to frame in formal words.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to conceive, comprehend.[6] It survives in French concevoir and Spanish concebir, and English conceive came in the late 13th century, first of pregnancy.[1][3] Medieval Latin conceptum gave English concept in the 1550s.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of conceiving a hope.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of formulas.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of pregnancy.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of grasping in the mind.[2][4]
  • late 13th century – English conceive is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To take in, absorb; to catch fire; to contain.[2]
  2. To derive.[2]
  3. To conceive (in the womb); to germinate.[2]
  4. To produce, form.[2]
  5. To perceive; to pronounce.[2]
  6. To catch (a disease); to contract (a stain).[2]
  7. To imagine; to devise.[2]
  8. To undertake; to form (a hope).[2]
  9. To pronounce (a formula); to declare (war).[2]
  10. To frame in formal words.[2]

Word family

  • conceptāculum
  • conceptiō
  • conceptīuus
  • concepto
  • conceptum
  • conceptus
  • concipilō

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 l m n o p q r s t u v w Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Concipio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/concipio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·