depositio

Forms

dēpositiō f (genitive dēpositiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from dēpōnō “to lay down, deposit” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Quintilian, whom he dates c. 35–95/96 AD, and Quintilian uses it of the close of a sentence.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

A post-Augustan word, most frequent in legal Latin, it was a laying down; the pulling down of a building, demolition, as in Ulpian; the placing of money in another's keeping, a deposit, as in Ulpian; the giving up of a position or status; and the cessation of an activity, as in Quintilian.^[2][5]

In Christian and Medieval Latin it was dismissal from office; burial; the translation of relics; death, and the anniversary of a death; the testimony of a witness; and the right of staple.^[6] In Ecclesiastical Latin it was deposition, burial, removal, degradation.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for lowering, also of musical pitch.^[8] English deposition (late 14th century) was first the removal of a person from office; the sense of testimony under oath is from the early 15th century.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it.^[2][4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of demolition and of a deposit.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English deposition is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A laying down; demolition.^[2][5]
2. A deposit of money.^[2]
3. A giving up; a cessation.^[2]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Deposition, dismissal from office.^[6][7]
5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Burial; death; the anniversary of a death.^[6]
6. (Medieval Latin) Testimony.^[6]

Related words

• dēpōnō
• dēpositum
• English deposition

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press