Etymologically
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converto

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈwɛr.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɱˈvɛr.to][1]

Forms

convertō (present infinitive convertere, perfect active convertī, supine conversum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and vertō “to turn”.[2][1][3] An older spelling is ⟨convortō⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of adapting and of turning to an activity.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to cause to revolve, rotate, as Cicero's heavens, to invert, turn over the soil, as in Columella, and to reverse, rout attackers, as in Caesar, with terga convertere “to flee”.[2] It meant to direct towards a goal, to turn the eyes towards something, to attract notice, as in Lucretius, and to direct one's attention or a person towards a cause, as in Cicero.[2] It meant to transfer, divert, to change, transform into something else, as in Cicero, to translate from one language into another, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium, to adapt, and to bring into a new state of mind.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to change, convert, alter, refresh.[6] It survives in French and Spanish convertir and Italian convertire.[1] English convert came through Old French about 1300, first of a change of religion.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of adapting.[2][5]
  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of translating.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rotation and transformation.[2][5]
  • c. 1300 – English convert is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To rotate; to turn over, invert.[2]
  2. To turn back; to put to flight.[2]
  3. To direct (towards); to attract (notice).[2]
  4. To transfer; to divert.[2]
  5. To change, transform; to convert.[2]
  6. To translate.[2]
  7. To adapt.[2]
  • vertō
  • conversiō
  • English convert

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson