destinatum

Forms

dēstinātum n (genitive dēstinātī); second declension^[1][2]

Etymology

It is the neuter, used as a noun, of dēstinātus, the participle of dēstinō (“to fix, determine”).^[1][3] De Vaan lists dēstinō among the derivatives of stō “to stand”, with the meaning “to arrange the purchase of” in Plautus and “to determine, settle” from Cicero on.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first quotation in the OLD is Livy, of men aiming as if at a mark.^[1] Köbler dates it from Tacitus.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It is an object aimed at, a mark: Curtius has men striking their marks with a sure blow.^[1] It is also a purpose or design, and ex dēstinātō is deliberately, according to plan: Seneca says that speed does not run beyond its goal.^[1]

Timeline

• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a mark aimed at.^[1][3]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of a goal.^[1][3]
• 1st century AD – Curtius of hitting marks.^[1][3]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. An object aimed at, a target, mark.^[1]
2. A purpose, intention, design;^[1] ex dēstinātō, deliberately.^[1]

Related words

• dēstinō

References

1. ^ 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
2. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill