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flexio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word flexio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (flectō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫɛk.si.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflɛk.si.o][1]

Forms

flexiō f (genitive flexiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from flectō “to bend” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨flectō⟩ as Proto-Italic *flek-t-.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and the OLD's first citations are from Cicero.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

It was a bending, swaying, curving, and concretely a winding path, as in Cicero; and an inflection, modulation of the voice, as in Cicero, and Lewis & Short call it rare but classical.[2][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for bending, flexibility, and genuum flexiō was genuflexion.[7] English flexion (about 1600, “a bent part”, and in grammar “inflection”) is from it.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of bending and of the voice.[2][5]
  • c. 1600 – English flexion is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A bending, turning; a bend, winding path.[2][6]
  2. A modulation of the voice, inflection.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) genuum flexiō genuflexion.[7]

Word family

  • reflexiō
  • inflexiō
  • flectō
  • flexanimus
  • flexibilis
  • flexibilitās
  • flexilis
  • flexuōsē
  • flexuōsus
  • flexūra
  • flexus
  • English flexion

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b 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
Cite this entry

“Flexio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/flexio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·