contexo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtɛk.soː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtɛk.so]^[1]

Forms

contexō (present infinitive contexere, perfect active contexuī, supine contextum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from con- (“together”) and texō “to weave”, from Proto-Indo-European *teḱs- (“to fashion, weave”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation for making by weaving is Afranius, of the 2nd century BC.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to weave together, join closely, as Cicero's wool woven into clothing, and to make by weaving or joining.^[2][5][6] Figuratively it meant to connect words, compose a speech or writing, as in Seneca, to link or combine things, and to make continuous, as in Cicero.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to weave, braid, join together.^[7] English context came in the early 15th century from its participle as a noun, contextus “a joining together”.^[3]

Timeline

• 2nd century BC – Afranius uses it of making by weaving.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of weaving wool.^[6][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of composing.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English context is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To weave together, join closely.^[2]
2. To make by weaving or joining.^[2]
3. To compose (a speech or writing).^[2]
4. To link, combine; to make continuous.^[2]

Word family

• contextim
• contextio
• contextor
• contextus

Related words

• texō
• English context

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 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson