Etymologically
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excido

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excido1 to fall out

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɛks.kɪ.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛks.t͡ʃi.do][1]

Forms

excidō (present infinitive excidere, perfect active excidī); third conjugation, no passive, no supine stem[1]

Etymology

This verb is from ex- and cadō “to fall”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of things lost.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to fall out or off, as in Cato, and to be lost unobserved, as in Plautus.[2] Celsus used it of parts of the body slipping out of place, Quintilian of a metrical foot ending a line, and Cicero of words that slip out, are let fall.[2] In Terence it meant to be disappointed of something, in Ovid to lose one's senses, and in Naevius to perish, be lost.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of falling out.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of words.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To fall out, drop.[2]
  2. To slip out (of words).[2]
  3. To be deprived of.[2]
  4. To be lost, perish.[2]

excido2 to cut out

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɛksˈkiː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eksˈt͡ʃiː.do][1]

Forms

excīdō (present infinitive excīdere, perfect active excīdī, supine excīsum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

This verb is from ex- and caedō “to cut”.[2][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of cutting out.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to cut out, remove by cutting, as in Cato, and in Cicero to hollow out and to raze towns, lay waste land, and Cicero has lapidēs ē terrā excīdere “to hew stones out of the earth”.[2][5] Pliny the Elder used it of cutting into a shape and Ovid of castrating.[2]

Its participle excīsus gave English excise “to cut out” in the 1570s, and excīsiō gave English excision in the late 15th century; the tax called excise is from Middle Dutch, influenced by it.[4]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of razing towns.[2][3]
  • 1570s – English excise “cut out” is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To cut out.[2]
  2. To hollow out.[2]
  3. To raze, destroy.[2]

Word family

  • excīsātus
  • excīsiō
  • excīsor
  • excīsōrius
  • excīsūra
  • excīsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 q r s t u Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press