Etymologically
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conficio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kõːˈfɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɱˈfiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

cōnficiō (present infinitive cōnficere, perfect active cōnfēcī, supine cōnfectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1] An inscription has the perfect cofeci.[2]

Etymology

It is from con- “together, thoroughly” and faciō “to do, make”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Livius Andronicus, of making something.[2] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260 to before 200 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to do, perform, as in Plautus, and in Livius Andronicus to make, manufacture.[2] In Cicero it meant to write down, to achieve, to prove, and of parts to make up a whole, and the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of bringing about.[2] From Plautus it meant to collect, raise troops, and to finish, and in Ennius to cover a distance; in Cicero to complete a period of time.[2] In Plautus it also meant to chop up and chew food, in Lucilius to use up, and in Plautus of grief to wear down; in Cicero it meant to destroy, squander, and to kill.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to complete, make thoroughly, destroy.[4] It survives in French confire “to preserve (fruit)” and Portuguese confeitar, and its noun cōnfectiō gave English confection in the mid-14th century, first of anything prepared by mixing.[1][5]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of making.[2][3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of doing, finishing and chewing.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of achieving and killing.[2][3]
  • mid-14th century – English confection is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To do, perform; to make, manufacture.[2]
  2. To write down.[2]
  3. To bring about; to achieve; to prove.[2]
  4. To make up, compose.[2]
  5. To collect; to raise (troops).[2]
  6. To finish; to cover (a distance); to complete (a period).[2]
  7. To chop up; to chew; to use up.[2]
  8. To wear down; to destroy; to kill.[2]

Word family

  • cōnfectiō
  • cōnfector
  • cōnfectōrium
  • cōnfectrīx
  • cōnfectūra
  • inconfectus
  • sēmicōnfectus
  • cōnfectus
  • cōnficiēns

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com