congressio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔŋˈɡrɛs.si.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koŋˈɡrɛs.si.o]^[1]

Forms

congressiō f (genitive congressiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin congredior (“to meet”) + -tiō, from con- and gradior “to step”.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨gradior⟩ to Proto-Italic ⟨*grad-(e)i-⟩, Proto-Indo-European *g(ʰ)r̥d(ʰ)-(e)i-.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are Cicero.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a coming together, a meeting, encounter, interview, as in Cicero's letters, where it is the opposite of dīgressiō “parting”; sexual intercourse, also in Cicero; and in Apuleius a clash with an enemy, engagement.^[2][5][6]

English congressional (1690s) is formed from its stem.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of meetings.^[2][4]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of a battle.^[2][4]
• 1690s – English congressional is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A meeting, encounter, interview.^[2][5]
2. Sexual intercourse.^[2]
3. An engagement (with an enemy).^[2]

Related words

• congredior
• congressus
• gradior
• English congress

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com