contextus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtɛk.stʊs], [kɔnˈtɛk.stuːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtɛk.stus], [konˈtɛk.stus]^[1]

Forms

contextus m (genitive contextūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin contexō (“to weave together”) + -tus,^[2][1] from con- and texō “to weave”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lucretius, in On the Nature of Things, speaks of a force that would dissolve the joining of bodies.^[2][4] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the action of weaving or joining, as Cicero speaks of a covering made by joining feathers, and the state of being joined.^[2] Figuratively it was the connection or coherence of a speech, very frequent in Quintilian, and an ordered scheme or plan.^[4][2] It also meant the structure of a thing, continuity, and concretely a whole made of parts: Seneca says a set of several tablets joined together is called a caudex.^[2]

In medieval Latin it was a text or charter, and the course or thread of a writing.^[6][7] English context is recorded in the early 15th century for the whole text of a writing.^[3]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the joining of bodies.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a speech's coherence.^[2][5]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it often.^[4][5]
• early 15th century – English context is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A weaving, joining together.^[2][1]
2. Connection, coherence; the context of a speech.^[2][1]
3. An ordered scheme or course.^[2]
4. Structure, fabric; continuity.^[2][1]
5. A whole made of many parts.^[2]
6. (Medieval Latin) A text; a charter.^[6][7]

Related words

• texō
• English context

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b 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