Etymologically
Log in

importo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪmˈpɔr.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [imˈpɔr.to][1]

Forms

importō (present infinitive importāre, perfect active importāvī, supine importātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from in- “in, into” and portō “to carry”.[2][1][3][4] It is also spelled ⟨inportō⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot's earliest citation is from Varro, of carrying in.[5] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bring or carry in, especially to import supplies or goods from outside, as in Caesar, who says the Suebi allow no wine to be imported, and in Columella.[2][5][7] In Cicero it meant to bring about, cause, inflict trouble or damage on someone.[2][5] In Ulpian it meant to bring an action, prefer a charge.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to bring in, import, introduce, convey.[8] The TLL notes that it was used through all periods of Latin.[3] It survives in Italian importare and French importer, and English import came in the early 15th century, first “to signify”.[1][4] Medieval Latin importāns gave English important.[1][4]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of carrying in.[5][6]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of imported goods.[5][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of causing harm.[2][6]
  • early 15th century – English import is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To bring in; to import.[2]
  2. To cause, inflict.[2]
  3. (law) To bring (an action).[2]

Word family

  • importātīcius
  • importātor
  • importantia

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson