Etymologically
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defectus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [deːˈfɛk.tʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [deˈfɛk.tus][1]

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]

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