fallacia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [falˈlaː.ki.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [falˈlaː.t͡ʃi.a]^[1]

Forms

fallācia f (genitive fallāciae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from fallāx “deceitful”, from fallō “to deceive”, with the suffix -ia.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant deceitful behaviour, deceit, a trick.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant falsehood, deceit, deception.^[5] Medieval Latin used it for negligence, a shortcoming, and an error, a failure.^[6] It survives in Italian fallacia and Spanish falacia, and gave English fallacy in the late 15th century, “deception, false statement”.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[4]
• late 15th century – English fallacy is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Deceit, a trick.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) Negligence; an error.^[6]

Word family

• fallāciēs
• fallāciōsus

Related words

• fallāx
• fallō
• English fallacy

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill