convictus

Forms

convīctus m (genitive convīctūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin convīvō (“to live together”) + -tus, a verbal noun of the fourth declension.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨vīvō⟩ to Proto-Italic *gʷīwe/o- (“to live”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷíh₃-we/o- (“to live”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cicero.^[4][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant living together, intimate association, social intercourse, as in Cicero and Seneca, and a social gathering, especially a banquet, dinner party, as in Celsus.^[2][5][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant manner of life, social life, living together, a feast.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for a way of life.^[8] In British Medieval Latin it was also companionship, a retinue, and an allowance of food, at universities battels.^[9] German Konvikt, a hostel for students of theology, comes from it.^[4]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of living together.^[2][4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of a dinner party.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Living together, intimate association, social intercourse.^[2][5]
2. A social gathering, banquet, dinner party.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Way of life; an allowance of food.^[8][9]

Related words

• convīvō
• convīva
• convīvium

Usage notes

convictus is also the perfect participle of convincō “to convict, refute”.^[5][6]

References

1. ^ a b 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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b 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