inceptum

Pronunciation

• Classical: [ɪŋˈkɛp.tũː]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [in̠ʲˈt͡ʃɛp.tum]^[1]

Forms

inceptum n (genitive inceptī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of the participle of incipiō (“to begin”), used as a noun.^[2][1][3] The verb is formed from in- and capiō (“to take”).^[4] De Vaan traces ⟨capiō⟩ to Proto-Italic *kap-i- and either Proto-Indo-European *kh₂p-i- or a non-Indo-European ⟨*kap-i-⟩ “to seize”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest quotation is Plautus: “this is the way to carry one's undertakings through finely”;^[2] Köbler gives Cicero.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It is a thing undertaken or begun, an undertaking, enterprise or attempt,^[2][1] and the theme or subject of a book, as Sallust's remark that a digression would draw him away from his subject.^[2] In Livy it seems to mean the beginning of something, a plan foul both in its start and its outcome.^[2]

In medieval Latin it is a notary's minute.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of carrying undertakings through.^[2][3]
• 86–34 BC – Sallust of the subject of a work.^[2][3]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of the beginning of a plan.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. An undertaking, enterprise, attempt.^[2][1]
2. The theme or subject of a book.^[2]
3. A beginning, start.^[2][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) A notary's minute.^[5]

Related words

• incipiō
• inceptiō
• capiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b 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 Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill