Etymologically
Log in

editio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word editio

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (dō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [eːˈdɪ.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈdit.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

ēditiō f (genitive ēditiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from ēdō “to put forth, publish” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for a legal nomination is from Cicero.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a bringing forth of offspring, a birth, as in Ulpian, which Lewis and Short call late, and the performance of services.[2][3] In Livy it meant a statement, an announcement, and in Cicero's law the plaintiff's nomination of tribes for a jury, and in Ulpian the presentation of accounts.[2] From Seneca it meant the publication of a book, and an edition.[2] Inscriptions use it of putting on a show, ēditiō mūneris.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant statement, publication, edition.[6] Medieval Latin used it of a charter.[7] English edition came in the early 15th century, “a version or form of a literary work”.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a legal nomination.[2][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a statement.[2][4]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of publication.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English edition is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A birth.[2]
  2. Performance of services.[2]
  3. A statement, (law) a nomination; a presentation of accounts.[2]
  4. Publication; an edition.[2]
  5. The putting on of a show.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Editio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/editio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·