conductum

Forms

conductum n (genitive conductī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter, used as a noun, of the participle from Latin conductus (“hired”),^[2][1] from condūcō (“to hire”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as a noun in Cicero (81–43 BC),^[3] who says of a man that he used to have some rented lodging outside the city gate.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides a rented dwelling it named the contract of hire itself, especially in the legal action ex conducto.^[2] Seneca and Petronius use it for lodgings.^[2]

In Medieval Latin, where it was also masculine, it meant an escort or safe-conduct and the right to provide one, as well as rent; in music it named a kind of song.^[4][3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for a rented lodging and for a contract of hire.^[2][3]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it for lodgings.^[2][3]
• before 66 AD – Petronius uses it for lodgings.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A rented residence, lodging.^[2][5]
2. A lease, contract of hire;^[2] actio ex conducto, an action on such a contract.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) An escort, safe-conduct; the right of escort.^[4]
4. (Medieval Latin) Rent.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson