Etymologically
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conicio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈjɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈjiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

coniciō (present infinitive conicere, perfect active coniēcī, supine coniectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1] It is also spelled coiciō, frequently at all periods.[2]

Etymology

It is from con- “together” and iaciō “to throw”, with the vowel of the stem weakened to ⟨i⟩ in the compound.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is the Law of the Twelve Tables, causam conicere “to state one's case in summary”.[2] Plautus uses it of throwing together, and Köbler dates him c. 250–184 BC.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to throw together, as in Plautus, and in Cato to put a quantity into a container.[2] In Cicero it meant to hurl at a target, to cast one's eyes on, to put someone in prison, to class among, and to place in time, as in noctem coniectus “overtaken by night”.[2] In Plautus it meant to send someone off, to involve someone in trouble, and to bring into a state.[2] In Terence it meant to conclude, guess, and in Plautus to interpret a dream or omen.[2]

Its noun coniectūra “inference, guess” gave English conjecture in the late 14th century, first of interpreting signs and dreams.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use causam conicere.[2]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of throwing together and interpreting.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of guessing.[2][3]
  • late 14th century – English conjecture is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To throw together; to put (into a container).[2]
  2. To hurl, oculōs conicere, to direct one's gaze.[2]
  3. To send; to put (in prison); to involve.[2]
  4. To class among; to place in time.[2]
  5. causam conicere, to state one's case in summary.[2]
  6. To guess, conjecture; to interpret (a dream).[2]

Word family

  • coniectānea
  • coniectiō
  • coniector
  • coniectrīx
  • coniectūra
  • coniectus
  • coniectārius
  • coniectō

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 k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com