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condico

Etymology and origin of the Latin word condico

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈdiː.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈdiː.ko][1]

Forms

condīcō (present infinitive condīcere, perfect active condīxī, supine condictum); third conjugation, irregular short imperative[1]

Etymology

It is from con- (“together”) and dīcō “to say”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Plautus, of fixing a date or price by agreement.[2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to talk a thing over, agree upon, as in the formula of the fetial priests demanding redress, and to appoint or fix a date or price by mutual consent, as in Plautus and Justinus.[2][5][3] It meant to give notice, as in Gellius, to engage oneself to dinner with someone, as in Suetonius, and in law to sue for the return of a thing.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to agree upon, arrange, appoint.[6] Its derivative condiciō “agreement, terms, situation” is the source of English condition in the mid-14th century.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of fixing a time.[2][3][4]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of giving notice.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English condition (from condiciō) is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To agree upon, arrange.[5]
  2. To appoint, fix (a date, price).[2]
  3. To give notice; to engage oneself (to dinner).[2]
  4. (law) To sue for the return of.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Condico.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/condico. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·