Etymologically
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conversatio

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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]

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