constructio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kõːˈstruːk.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈstruk.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

cōnstrūctiō f (genitive cōnstrūctiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from cōnstruō “to pile up, build” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3] Isidore defines it as the building up of bricks and height, so called because it binds together.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of putting things together and of the arrangement of words.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the putting together, piling up of materials in building, erection, and of other things, as Cicero's cōnstrūctiō hominis “the structure of man”.^[2][6] From Cicero it meant the arrangement of words or literary matter, and Lewis and Short call it good prose, most frequent in Cicero and not in Quintilian.^[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant an erecting, building, joining, construction.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it of building, including the duties of bridge- and fortress-work.^[8] English construction came in the late 14th century, first of construing the arrangement of words.^[9]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of structure and of word order.^[2][6][5]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore defines it.^[4][5]
• late 14th century – English construction is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A putting together; building, construction.^[2]
2. The structure of a thing.^[2][6]
3. The arrangement of words.^[2]

Related words

• cōnstruō
• struō
• English construction

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. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com