Etymologically
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consideratio

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Forms

cōnsīderātiō f (genitive cōnsīderātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from cōnsīderō “to examine, consider” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero has cōnsīderātiō nātūrae “the observation of nature”.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant looking, inspection, as in Vitruvius, and mental examination, contemplation, consideration, as in Cicero.[2] Lewis & Short note it is rare and not in Quintilian.[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant regard, observance, and arbitration.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for contemplation, scrutiny, a point of view, and in astronomy for observation, and Bede uses it.[8][4] Through Old French consideracion it gave English consideration in the mid-14th century, “a beholding; contemplation”.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[4][5]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of inspection.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English consideration is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Looking, inspection.[2]
  2. Contemplation, consideration.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Regard; arbitration.[7]

Word family

  • inconsideratio

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ 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