Etymologically
Log in

doceo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 00:11. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdɔ.ke.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɔː.t͡ʃe.o][1]

Forms

doceō (present infinitive docēre, perfect active docuī, supine doctum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *dok-eje-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *doḱ-ei̯e/o- (“to make someone accept something”), a causative.[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek δοκέω (dokéō, “to seem”) and Hittite dākki (“seems, is fitting”), and related to decet “it is fitting”.[2][3] Lewis & Short and Georges compared discō “to learn”.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Livius Andronicus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to tell or inform, to brief an advocate, to show or demonstrate, and to teach a person a skill, with two accusatives.[3] Docēre fābulam was to produce a play, as Cicero says Livius Andronicus first did.[3]

In medieval Latin it was to teach and train, and in the passive also to learn.[7] It survives in Old French duire.[1] Its derivatives doctor, doctrīna and docilis gave English doctor, doctrine and docile.[8]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero says that Livius was the first to produce a play.[3][6]
  • c. 1300 – English doctor is recorded, first of a Church father.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To tell, inform.[3][4]
  2. To brief (an advocate).[3]
  3. To show, demonstrate.[3]
  4. To teach, instruct.[3][4]
  5. Docēre fābulam, to produce a play.[3]

Word family

  • addoceō
  • condoceō
  • dēdoceō
  • docibilis
  • docilis
  • doctificus
  • doctisonus
  • doctiusculē
  • doctor
  • doctrīna
  • doctrīx

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com