correspondeo

Forms

correspondeō (present infinitive correspondēre, perfect active correspondī, supine correspōnsum); second conjugation, no passive^[1]

Etymology

It is a Medieval Latin compound, from Latin con- + respondeō (“to answer”).^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Among the MLW's first examples are a treatise on music theory, in which a long note of the motet correspondet to a long note of the tenor,^[3] and Albertus Magnus (13th century), who speaks of organs in lower animals that correspond to the heart and brain.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to correspond, agree, match:^[3][1] Albertus Magnus wants the punishment to match the size of the fault.^[3] The participle was used as a noun for a copy of a document,^[3] and Ecclesiastical Latin has it in the sense “to answer strongly”.^[5] The humanists Coluccio Salutati and Pico della Mirandola used it of harmonies and of correspondences between orders of beings.^[6]

English borrowed correspond in the 1520s, from French or directly from Medieval Latin.^[2]

Timeline

• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it of corresponding organs.^[3][4]
• 1520s – English borrows correspond.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Medieval Latin) To correspond, agree, match.^[3][1][6]
2. (Medieval Latin) To harmonize.^[1]
3. (Medieval Latin) To belong (to).^[3]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To answer, respond strongly.^[5][6]

Related words

• English correspond

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de