Etymologically
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contradictio

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kɔn.traːˈdɪk.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [kon.traˈdik.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

contrādictiō f (genitive contrādictiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin contrādīcō (“to speak against”) + -tiō.[2][1][3] That verb is formed from contrā (“against”) and dīcō2 (“to say”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first known use is in the elder Seneca's Suasoriae, of a counterargument that has been put forward.[2][4][3]

Semantic evolution

Lewis & Short note that it is post-Augustan and most frequent in Quintilian, for the replies and objections of judicial pleading;[5] contradictionem sumere meant to anticipate an opponent's objection.[5] Tacitus uses it of speaking in opposition.[2] Boethius uses it in logic for the opposition of affirmation and negation, a contradiction.[4]

In Medieval Latin it meant a refusal, and the denial or contesting of a right.[6] English contradiction (late 14th century) comes from Old French or directly from it.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 55 BC–40 AD – The elder Seneca uses it of a counterargument.[2][3]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it often for objections in court.[5][3]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of repeated speaking in opposition.[2][3]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as contradiction.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Speaking in opposition, objection.[2][5]
  2. An argument put forward in opposition, a counterargument, reply.[2][5]
  3. (logic) Contradiction, the opposition of affirmation and negation.[4]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A refusal; a denial or contesting of a right.[6]
  • contrādīcibilis
  • contrādīcō
  • contrādictor
  • contrādictōrius
  • contrādictus
  • English contradiction

Usage notes

The phrase contradictiō in adiectō names a contradiction between a noun and its adjective.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com