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detractio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word detractio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (trahō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [deːˈtrak.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈtrak.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

dētractiō f (genitive dētractiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from dētrahō “to take away; to disparage” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨dētrahō⟩ is from dē- and trahō “to draw”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Gaffiot cites his dētractiō aliēnī “taking what belongs to another”.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It was a taking away, removal, withdrawal, as in Cicero, and dētractiō sanguinis was bloodletting.[2][5]

In Christian and Medieval Latin it was slander, defamation.[6][7] British Medieval Latin also used it for the dragging of a criminal to execution.[8] English detraction (mid-14th century, “the vice of slandering”) came through Old French and directly from Latin.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5][4]
  • mid-14th century – English detraction is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A taking away, removal, dētractiō sanguinis bloodletting.[2]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Slander, detraction.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b 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
Cite this entry

“Detractio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/detractio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·