Etymology and origin of the Latin word deformatio
deformatio1 design, representation
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- c. 84–25 BC Vitruvius
- Ultimate origin
- Latin dēfōrmō
Etymology tree of deformatio1
From the same root · deformatio1
Forms
dēfōrmātiō f (genitive dēfōrmātiōnis); third declension[1]
Etymology
The word for a design or representation is formed from Latin dēfōrmō + -tiō, from the verb in its sense “to shape, outline”.[2][3][4] The verb is formed from dē- and fōrmō (“to shape”).[2] The OLD treats both senses of the noun in one article, while Lewis & Short, Georges and Gaffiot give each its own entry, tracing this one to ⟨dēfōrmō⟩ “to shape” and the other to ⟨dēfōrmō⟩ “to disfigure”.[2][3][4][5]
Earliest recorded meaning
It first appears in Vitruvius, at the opening of his work, for a design or layout.[2][6]
Semantic evolution
Vitruvius uses it for the design of altars and for an oblique configuration, and for figures and representations: diagrams drawn with lines, or the signs of the zodiac marked on the rim of a drum.[2] Hyginus, in his Astronomica, uses it of the figures of the constellations and the number of their stars.[2] Gaffiot records the figurative sense “form, appearance” in the Bible.[5]
Timeline
- c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it for a design or layout.[2][7]
- 2nd half of the 1st century BC – Hyginus uses it of the figures of the constellations.[2][4][7]
Meanings
Noun
deformatio2 disfigurement
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 81–43 BC Cicero, Hortensius
- Ultimate origin
- Latin dēfōrmō
Etymology tree of deformatio2
From the same root · deformatio2
Forms
dēfōrmātiō f (genitive dēfōrmātiōnis); third declension[1]
Etymology
The word for disfigurement is formed from Latin dēfōrmō + -tiō, from the verb in its sense “to disfigure”.[2][3][4] VOLI derives it instead from dēfōrmis (“misshapen”).[8]
Earliest recorded meaning
The TLL finds it from Cicero on:[9] a fragment of his Hortensius asks what disfigurement of complexion and body pleasure does not call forth.[2][9]
Semantic evolution
Livy uses it figuratively, of the degradation of so great a majesty, from which eyes were turned away.[2][4] It recurs in Tertullian and Marius Victorinus,[9] and the Codex Theodosianus uses it of the mutilation of a hand and of the defacing of plundered buildings.[4][3] English deformation (mid-15th century), first “transformation”, comes from Old French and directly from Latin.[10]
Timeline
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the disfigurement of complexion and body.[2][9][7]
- 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it for degradation.[2][3][7]
- c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it.[9][7]
- 438 AD – The Codex Theodosianus uses it of mutilation and defacement.[4][3][7]
- mid-15th century – English deformation appears.[10]
Meanings
Noun
References
- ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
- ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
- ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
- ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
- ^ a b c d e f Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ Simpson, D. P. (1959), Cassell's New Latin Dictionary, London: Cassell
Cite this entry
“Deformatio.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/deformatio. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.
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