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corrigo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word corrigo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (regō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔr.rɪ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔr.ri.ɡo][1]

Forms

corrigō (present infinitive corrigere, perfect active corrēxī, supine corrēctum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and regō “to direct, keep straight”, with the vowel weakened.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Cato, of straightening, and Plautus, of reforming a person.[2][4] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to make straight, straighten, as Cato's chains and Pliny the Elder's finger, to direct a road straight, and to bring a ship back on course, as in Livy.[2][6][4] It meant to amend a piece of writing, reform practices, as in Varro, to correct oneself, and to put a fault right, as in Terence.[2] Of persons it meant to reform, as in Plautus, and to chastise, as in Seneca; in medicine it meant to cure.[2] Döderlein says corrigere is to amend like a strict schoolmaster who straightens what is crooked, while ēmendō is to correct like an experienced teacher.[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to correct, reform, amend.[8] English correct was borrowed from its participle corrēctus in the mid-14th century, first meaning “to discipline”.[3]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of straightening chains.[4][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of reforming a person.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of putting a fault right.[2][5]
  • mid-14th century – English correct is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To make straight, straighten.[2]
  2. To amend, correct (a writing); to reform (practices).[2]
  3. To put right, rectify.[2]
  4. To reform (a person); to chastise.[2]
  5. (medicine) To restore, cure.[2]

Word family

  • corrēctiō
  • corrēctor
  • correctura
  • incorrectus
  • recorrigō
  • corrigia
  • corrigiunculum
  • corrigiuncula

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Corrigo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/corrigo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·