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Pronunciation
Forms
fōrmātiō f (genitive fōrmātiōnis); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is from fōrmō “to shape” with the suffix -tiō, from fōrma “form”.[2][1][3]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's earliest citation is from Vitruvius, of a design for a building.[2] Köbler dates Vitruvius c. 84–c. 25 BC.[4]
Semantic evolution
It meant a design, plan for a building, as in Vitruvius, and the action of forming, as in Seneca.[2] Lewis & Short note it is post-Augustan in its other uses.[5]
In Medieval Latin it meant creation.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for forming, moulding, the creation of man, and the casting of metal.[7] Through Old French formacion it gave English formation in the late 14th century.[3]
Timeline
- c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it.[2][4]
- 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of forming.[2][4]
- late 14th century – English formation is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Noun
Related words
- fōrma
- fōrmābilis
- fōrmābilitās
- fōrmāceus
- fōrmālis
- fōrmāmentum
- fōrmaster
- fōrmātor
- fōrmātrīx
- fōrmātūra
- fōrmō
- English formation
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
- ^ 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