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incido

Etymology and origin of the Latin word incido

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incido1 to fall into, happen

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (cadō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪŋ.kɪ.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈin̠ʲ.t͡ʃi.do][1]

Forms

incidō (present infinitive incidere, perfect active incidī, future active participle incāsūrus); third conjugation, no passive, no supine stem except in the future active participle[1] A supine incāsum is recorded.[2]

Etymology

This verb is from in- “into” and cadō “to fall”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of falling into trouble and of evils befalling someone.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it meant to fall into or on something, to come by chance to a place, and to happen on a person or thing.[2] From Plautus it meant to fall into unpleasant circumstances, and of evils to befall someone.[2] In Cicero it meant to slip into an opinion, to come under a law or heading, and of events to fall on a date; in Terence to arise, and of an idea to occur to someone.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to fall into, happen upon, meet.[5] It was borrowed into Italian incidere and Spanish incidir.[1] Its participle incidēns gave English incident in the early 15th century.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of falling into trouble.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of arising.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of happening on something.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English incident is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To fall into or on.[2]
  2. To come by chance; to happen on.[2]
  3. To fall into (circumstances).[2]
  4. To come under (a law, heading); to fall on (a date).[2]
  5. To befall; to arise, occur.[2]

Word family

  • coincidō
  • superincidō

incido2 to cut into

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (caedō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪŋˈkiː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in̠ʲˈt͡ʃiː.do][1]

Forms

incīdō (present infinitive incīdere, perfect active incīdī, supine incīsum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

This verb is from in- “into” and caedō “to cut”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of cutting into something.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to cut into, slit, as in Cato, and in Ovid to form by cutting.[2] In Cicero it meant to engrave, inscribe words, to cut through, and to cut short activities or hopes, and in Quintilian to interrupt a path or stream.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to cut into, carve, engrave, inscribe.[5] Its participle incīsus gave English incise through French in the 1540s.[3]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of cutting into.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of engraving.[2][4]
  • 1540s – English incise is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To cut into, slit.[2]
  2. To engrave, inscribe.[2]
  3. To cut through.[2]
  4. To interrupt; to cut short.[2]

Word family

  • incīsē
  • incīsim
  • incīsiō
  • incīsor
  • incīsum
  • incīsūra
  • incīsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Incido.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/incido. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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