Etymologically
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eicio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word eicio

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (iaciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [eːˈjɪ.ki.oː], [eːˈɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈjiː.t͡ʃi.o], [eˈiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

ēiciō (present infinitive ēicere, perfect active ēiēcī, supine ēiectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1] Ēicis and ēicit are sometimes two syllables in verse, as in Plautus and Lucretius.[2]

Etymology

It is from ex- “out” and iaciō “to throw”, with the vowel of the stem weakened to ⟨i⟩ in the compound.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of ships cast ashore, and Cato, of throwing out.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to throw out as unwanted, as in Cato, and to take out, extract.[2] In Lucretius it meant to emit, discharge, and to throw off course.[2] In Plautus the sea casts ships and sailors ashore, and people are driven out, expelled, and Plautus also used it of putting feelings out of one's mind.[2] In geometry it meant to produce a line.[2]

Its participle ēiectus gave English eject in the mid-15th century.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of shipwreck and expulsion.[2][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of throwing out.[2][3]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of discharging.[2][3]
  • mid-15th century – English eject is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To throw out; to take out.[2]
  2. To emit, discharge.[2]
  3. Of the sea, to cast ashore.[2]
  4. To expel, drive out.[2]
  5. To put out of one's mind.[2]
  6. To throw off course.[2]

Word family

  • ēiectīcius
  • ēiectiō
  • ēiectō
  • ēiectūra
  • ēiectus

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 o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Eicio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/eicio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·