Etymologically

extractio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 04:58. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɛkˈstrak.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ekˈstrak.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

extractiō f (genitive extractiōnis); third declension[1] Medieval spellings include ⟨extraccio⟩ and ⟨extraxio⟩.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin extrahō (“to draw out”) + -tiō.[1][4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first source is Chiron, who writes of the drawing of blood.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

In Late Latin it meant the drawing up or out of something: a scholiast on Statius uses it of the calling up of the shade of Laius, the chapter headings of Luke in a Vulgate manuscript of an ass or an ox pulled out of a well, and a Latin Hippocrates of the drawing off of blood, bile and phlegm.[4]

Medieval Latin used it widely:[5][6] for pulling out a sword, a tooth or an arrow, for blood-letting, for removing a dead fetus,[5][7][3] for the extraction of roots in arithmetic, and for separating substances in alchemy.[5][6][3] In legal and financial records it was the export of goods, the drawing out of documents or the obtaining of letters from a chancery, a copy or extract, and a subtraction in accounts.[5][6][7][3] Tinctoris uses it in music for taking one voice of a new piece from the notes of an existing one.[8] English extraction was taken in the early 15th century, from Old French or directly from Medieval Latin.[9]

Timeline

  • 4th century AD – Chiron uses it of the drawing of blood.[4][2]
  • 1259 – A record from Gascony uses it of clearing land.[6]
  • 1268 – An imperial document speaks of the export of food out of the kingdom.[5]
  • 1275 – William of Saliceto uses it of drawing out an arrow.[5][2]
  • early 15th century – English borrows extraction.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Late Latin) A drawing out or up, extraction; the drawing of blood.[4][5][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Removal, taking away.[10][5][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin, mathematics) The extraction of a root; subtraction.[5][6][3]
  4. (Medieval Latin, alchemy) Separation of a substance; an extract.[5][6]
  5. (Medieval Latin, law) Export of goods.[5]
  6. (Medieval Latin) The obtaining or issuing of documents; a copy, extract of a record.[7][6][3]
  7. (Medieval Latin, music) The taking of one voice from the notes of an existing piece.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  4. ^ a b c d e Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  8. ^ a b Lexicon musicum Latinum medii aevi (1992–), Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften; online ed. Wörterbuchnetz
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill