contio

Pronunciation

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

Forms

cōntiō f (genitive cōntiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is contracted from coventiō, the form of the decree on the Bacchanals (186 BC), that is conventiō “a coming together”.^[2][3][4] De Vaan reconstructs inherited from Proto-Italic *ko(m)-wentiōn-, a remade Proto-Indo-European *gʷm̥-ti- (“a coming”) of the root of veniō with the prefix com-.^[2] Cognate with Sanskrit गति (gáti-, “motion”), Ancient Greek βάσις (básis, “step”) and Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌵𐌿𐌼𐌸𐍃 (gaqumþs, “meeting”).^[2] The spelling concio is incorrect.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^[2][5] The decree on the Bacchanals of 186 BC has the old ablative coventionid.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

At Rome it was a meeting of the people called by a magistrate or priest to hear an address, where no vote was taken, and contiōnem dare was to give someone a chance to speak.^[3][6] By transfer it was the audience at such a meeting, public opinion, and the speech made there, as Cicero has a speech of Antony in his hands.^[3]

Medieval writers used it for a gathering or company and for a sermon.^[7] The derived verb contiōnārī meant “to harangue an assembly”.^[3][6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[5]
• 186 BC – The decree on the Bacchanals has the form coventionid.^[2]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a speaker abandoned by the whole assembly.^[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A public meeting, assembly of the people (called by a magistrate).^[3]
2. The people at such a meeting, audience; public opinion.^[3]
3. A public speech, harangue.^[3]
4. (Medieval Latin) A sermon.^[7]

Word family

• cōntiōnālis
• cōntiōnārius
• cōntiōnor
• cōntiuncula

Related words

• cōntiōnābundus
• cōntiōnātor
• convena
• conveniēns
• convenienter
• convenientia
• conventīcium
• conventīcius
• conventiō
• conventiōnālis
• veniō
• comitium

Usage notes

A contiō only heard speeches, while the people voted in the comitia.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ 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 c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
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