exhibitio

Forms

exhibitiō f (genitive exhibitiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from exhibeō “to hold out, produce, present” with the suffix -tiō, from ex- and habeō “to hold”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Gellius, of producing a person in court.^[2] Köbler dates Gellius c. 165 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the production of a person or thing in court before a magistrate, as in Gellius, and in Ulpian the maintenance, support of a person.^[2] Lewis & Short call it post-classical and cite the Digest for the producing of a will.^[5] Gaffiot adds the upkeep of public baths.^[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant the bringing of proofs or witnesses before a court, a display, and an offer.^[7] Through Old French exhibicion it gave English exhibition in the early 14th century, “action of displaying”.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of production in court.^[2][4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of maintenance.^[2][4]
• early 14th century – English exhibition is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Production (in court).^[2]
2. Maintenance, support.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A display, exhibition.^[7]

Related words

• exhibeō
• habeō
• English exhibition

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill