conflictus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kõːˈfliːk.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɱˈflik.tus]^[1]

Forms

cōnflīctus m (genitive cōnflīctūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin cōnflīgō (“to strike together”) + -tus,^[2][1] from con- and flīgō (“to strike”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in the Pro Caecina, speaks not only of the shock of shields and the clash of bodies.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a striking together, a collision, used mostly in the ablative: Cicero says fire is struck from the friction of stones and speaks of the collision of clouds.^[2][5] Gellius uses it figuratively of an impact of misfortune.^[2][5] In the Historia Augusta it is a fight.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was a battle, an argument, a judicial combat and a defeat, and in British sources also a tournament.^[7][8] English conflict is recorded in the early 15th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of colliding stones and clouds.^[2][4]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of an impact.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English conflict is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A striking together, collision, clash.^[2][1]
2. An impact.^[2][1]
3. A fight, contest.^[6][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) A battle; an argument; a judicial combat; a tournament.^[7][8]

Related words

• cōnflīgō
• English conflict

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
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. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press