conversatio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔn.wɛrˈsaː.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɱ.verˈsat.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

conversātiō f (genitive conversātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin conversor (“to associate with”) + -tiō.^[2][3] Conversor is from conversō, a frequentative of convertō, from con- and vertō “to turn”.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Vitruvius uses it of the revolution of the zodiac.^[2] Köbler dates Vitruvius about 84–25 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Lewis & Short note that it is not found before Augustus.^[5] It meant frequent use, as in Seneca, and frequent stay in a place, as in Pliny.^[5][6] Its main sense was habitual association, intercourse and familiarity with people, in Seneca and Quintilian, which led to the sense of conduct and behaviour, as in Velleius.^[2][5]

In Christian Latin it meant a way of life, conversion, and the monastic life, including the taking of a monk's vows; it also meant conversation.^[7][1] Medieval British sources also use it of the course of a disease.^[8] English conversation is recorded in the mid-14th century, first of a place where one lives and of a manner of life; the sense of talk came later.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the turning of the zodiac.^[2][4]
• c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius uses it of conduct.^[2][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of association.^[6][4]
• mid-14th century – English conversation is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A turning round, revolution.^[2]
2. Frequent use; frequent stay in a place.^[5][6]
3. Association, intercourse, familiarity.^[2][1]
4. conduct, behaviour, way of life.^[2][1]
5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Monastic life; conversion.^[7][1]
6. (Medieval Latin) conversation.^[7][1]

Related words

• conversātor
• conversō
• conversus
• conversor
• English conversation

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ 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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com