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falsifico

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [faɫˈsɪ.fɪ.koː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [falˈsiː.fi.ko][1]

Forms

falsificō (present infinitive falsificāre, perfect active falsificāvī, supine falsificātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin falsus (“false”) + -ficō, “to make false”.[1][2] The DMLBS points to the Late Latin participle ⟨falsificātus⟩.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first form recorded is the participle falsificātus, “falsified, false”, which Prudentius uses in the Hamartigenia.[4][5][6][7]

Semantic evolution

The verb itself is medieval.[3][8] It meant to falsify or counterfeit letters, seals and coins:[3][8][9] a royal charter of 1205 speaks of the felony of forging the king's seal, and a synod of 1279 excommunicates those who forge papal letters.[3][9][10] Albertus Magnus says that deceivers sin more than those who counterfeit coins, and a Bern charter of 1249 treats an innkeeper who waters or otherwise adulterates his wine as a thief.[8] It also meant to corrupt or distort a text or a truth.[8][3]

In scholastic Latin it meant to prove false, to refute: Grosseteste writes that an opinion is falsified, and Ockham that the faith cannot be falsified;[3] logicians spoke of a proposition that falsifies itself.[3][10] In English and Norman law falsificāre cūriam was to accuse a court of false judgement.[3][8] It is the source of Italian falsificare, Spanish falsificar and French falsifier,[1] and English falsify “to prove false” came through French in the mid-15th century.[2]

Timeline

  • 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses the participle falsificātus.[4][5][7]
  • 1195 – An English court record uses it of challenging a lord's court.[3]
  • 1198/1206 – A Zurich charter tells of a monk who forged letters.[8]
  • 1205 – A royal charter speaks of forging the king's seal.[3]
  • 1249 – A Bern charter uses it of adulterating wine.[8]
  • 1279 – A synod excommunicates those who forge papal letters.[9][10]
  • mid-15th century – English falsify is recorded.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Late Latin, participle) falsificātus: falsified, false.[4][5][6][11]
  2. (Medieval Latin) To falsify, counterfeit (letters, seals, coins); to adulterate.[3][8][9][10]
  3. (Medieval Latin) To corrupt, distort.[8][12]
  4. (Medieval Latin) To prove false, refute; to nullify;[3][8][10] (logic) to make false.[3][8][10]
  5. (Medieval Latin, law) To accuse (a court) of false judgement, to challenge (a judgement).[3][8]
  6. (Medieval Latin) To accuse of forgery; to hold to be false.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ a b c d e Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  10. ^ a b c d e f Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  11. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  12. ^ Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences