defectus

Forms

dēfectus m (genitive dēfectūs); fourth declension^[1] As the participle of dēficiō it is an adjective, dēfectus, -a, -um, comparative dēfectior.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dēficiō (“to fail, desert”) + -tus, a fourth-declension noun of action.^[2][1][3] dēficiō is a compound of dē- and faciō (“to do, make”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest examples are in Lucretius, of an eclipse, and Cicero, of growing less.^[2] Köbler dates the noun from Cicero.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Its main sense is failure, lack or deficiency: Livy has a lack of water killing cattle by thirst, and dēfectus animī is faintness.^[2] Lewis & Short find it frequent in Pliny the Elder and rare elsewhere.^[5] Pliny also uses it of a weakness, such as a weak stomach.^[2] Lucretius uses it of an eclipse, and Cicero of growing less.^[2] In the jurists it is the lapse of a condition.^[2] Curtius and the Historia Augusta use it for a revolt.^[2][5] In medieval texts it is a lack or deficiency, a vice or imperfection, defection or disobedience, prevarication and denial of justice.^[6] English defect (early 15th century) came from it, partly through Old French.^[3]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius, of an eclipse.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero, of waning.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of a lack of water.^[2][4]
• 1st century AD – Curtius, of a revolt.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English defect.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Failure, lack, deficiency;^[2][5][1] dēfectus animī, faintness.^[2]
2. A weakness, defect;^[2][1] (Medieval Latin) a vice, imperfection.^[6]
3. An eclipse;^[2] a waning, diminution.^[2]
4. (law) The lapse of a condition.^[2]
5. A revolt, defection.^[2][5][1][6]

Adjective

1. Worn out, enfeebled.^[2][1]
2. Faulty, defective;^[2][1] reduced in size.^[2]

Related words

• dēfector
• dēficiō
• dēfectīvus
• dēfectiō
• English defect

Usage notes

The adjective is the participle of dēficiō: Ovid has someone slipping on a weakened knee, Fronto a faulty book, and Apuleius things made smaller in convex mirrors.^[2] Köbler dates it from Ovid.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 q r s t u v w Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f 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 Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill