derivatio

Forms

dērīvātiō f (genitive dērīvātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin dērīvō + -tiō, from the verb meaning “to divert”.^[2][1][3] dērīvō is made from rīvus (“stream”),^[4] which de Vaan traces back to Proto-Italic *rīwo- (“stream”) and Proto-Indo-European *h₃riH-uo- (“whirling”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Cicero (81–43 BC) on,^[3][5] who speaks of the leading off of rivers (derivationes fluminum) in De officiis.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Livy uses it for the customary drawing off of the water of the Alban lake,^[3][6] and it could also name a branch pipe.^[2] Quintilian applied it to a shift of sense, when one calls the rash man brave or the prodigal generous.^[2] The derivation of words, its grammatical sense, is reported from Pliny by Servius.^[2]

In medieval Latin it meant a drawing off of fluids in medicine, an origin or descent, an interpretation, and the etymological derivation of a word;^[7] British sources also use it for an overflow of waters.^[8] English borrowed it as derivation in the early 15th century, first in the medical sense “a drawing off”, from French and directly from Latin.^[9]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the leading off of rivers.^[2][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of drawing off the Alban lake.^[3][5]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it for a shift in the sense of words.^[2][5]
• early 15th century – English borrows it as derivation.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A leading off of water, diversion;^[2][6] (concrete) a branch pipe.^[2][6]
2. A divergence or shift in the sense of a word.^[2]
3. (grammar) The derivation of words.^[2][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) An origin, descent; an interpretation.^[7]
5. (Medieval Latin, medicine) A drawing off of fluids.^[7]

Related words

• English derivation

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com