Etymologically
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conflictus

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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]

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