fortificatio

Forms

fortificātiō f (genitive fortificātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin fortificō (“to strengthen, fortify”) + -tiō,^[1][2] a verb made from fortis (“strong”) and faciō (“to make”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is post-classical:^[4] the first author to use it is the medical writer Caelius Aurelianus (5th century AD), for strengthening that is to be applied to the body.^[4][5][3]

Semantic evolution

Medieval Latin used it for strengthening in general, for a state of strength, and for proof or demonstration.^[6] From the 13th century it also meant the fortification of a place against attack:^[7][6] an English record of 1209 grants revenues for enclosing and fortifying a town.^[7] In a 14th-century chronicle it is the growing force of blows on a door.^[8]

English took it over in the early 15th century as fortification, through Old French.^[2]

Timeline

• 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it for strengthening the body.^[5][3]
• 1209 – An English record uses it for the fortification of a town.^[7]
• 1220–1280 – Albertus Magnus uses it for strengthening.^[6]
• early 15th century – Borrowed into English as fortification, through Old French.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A strengthening, fortifying (of the body).^[4][5][9]
2. (Medieval Latin) Strengthening in general; strength.^[6][7]
3. (Medieval Latin) Fortification, reinforcement against attack.^[7][6]
4. (Medieval Latin) Proof, demonstration.^[6]

Related words

• fortis
• English fortification

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ a b c d e 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
8. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
9. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.