Etymologically
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contamino

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtaː.mɪ.noː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtaː.mi.no][1]

Forms

contāminō (present infinitive contāmināre, perfect active contāmināvī, supine contāminātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is a verb from a noun *contāmen “contact”, from Latin con- + *tāmen, built on the root *tag- of tangō “to touch”, so that the first sense was “to bring into contact”.[2][3][1] The noun may come from *tagmen or *tagsmen, from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- (“to touch”).[2] The Romans already linked it with tangō, since contāminātus was the opposite of integer “untouched”.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Terence, who defends himself against the charge of “mixing up” Greek plays.[2][4] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Terence it meant to combine several comedies into one, and also to spoil a joy with some grief.[4][3] Accius uses it of debasing a stock by an inferior strain, and it meant to defile with filth, to profane something sacred, and to pollute morally, with crime or sexual intercourse.[3]

Döderlein says contāmināre is defilement in its harmful effect, the corruption of what is sound, while inquināre is defilement as disgusting.[6] Its past participle gave English contaminate in the early 15th century, “infect, defile”.[7] In modern scholarship contāminātiō is the combining of plots, from Terence's use.[4]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of mixing comedies and of spoiling a joy.[4][3][5]
  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of debasing a stock.[3][5]
  • early 15th century – English contaminate is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To mix, blend (several plays into one).[4]
  2. To defile with filth, pollute.[3]
  3. To debase by mixture, adulterate.[3]
  4. To spoil, ruin, corrupt.[3]
  5. To render ritually unclean, profane.[3]
  6. To pollute morally, defile.[3]

Word family

  • contaminabilis
  • contāminātiō
  • contaminator
  • incontāminātus
  • contāminātus
  • incontāminābilis

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes contāmināre (to corrupt by contact), inquināre (to dirty, loathsomely), polluere (to profane) and foedāre (to disfigure).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com