Etymologically
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divinatio

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Forms

dīvīnātiō f (genitive dīvīnātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from dīvīnō “to foresee, divine” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of foreseeing the future.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant foreseeing the future, prophecy, and an intuition, a guess.[2] In law, as in Quintilian, it was the inquiry that decided which of several accusers should prosecute.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant divination, foreseeing.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for fortune-telling, as in Theodore's penitential against women who practise devilish incantations or divinations.[6] It was borrowed into Italian divinazione and French divination, and through Old French it gave English divination in the late 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of prophecy.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it in law.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English divination is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Divination, prophecy.[2]
  2. Intuition, a guess.[2]
  3. (law) The choice of a prosecutor.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ 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