Etymologically
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contractus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:36. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtrak.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtrak.tus][1]

Forms

contractus m (genitive contractūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

It is from contrahō “to draw together, contract” with the suffix of action nouns -tus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of the shrinking of grapes.[2][3] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a drawing together, shrinking, narrowing, as Varro's acinōrum contractus.[2][3] In Gellius and Quintilian it meant the undertaking of a business, and then a legal or commercial agreement, a contract.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a bargain, contract, agreement.[6] Medieval Latin used it of a contract and an acquisition.[7] Through Old French contract it gave English contract in the early 14th century, first of marriage agreements.[8]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of shrinking.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a contract.[2][4]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of undertaking business.[2][4]
  • early 14th century – English contract is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A shrinking, narrowing.[2]
  2. The undertaking of a transaction.[2]
  3. A contract, agreement.[2]

Usage notes

Contractus, -a, -um, the participle of contrahō, is used as an adjective meaning narrow, short, restricted, sparing, and of style terse, as in Cicero.[2]

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 k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com