inculco

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɪŋˈkʊɫ.koː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iŋˈkul.ko]^[1]

Forms

inculcō (present infinitive inculcāre, perfect active inculcāvī, supine inculcātum); first conjugation^[1] Columella has incalcō.^[2]

Etymology

It is from in- “in” and calcō “to tread”, from calx “heel”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of forcing something on someone and of impressing an idea.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Literally it meant to trample, press down, and to tread or stuff in, as in Columella; figuratively to insert, especially needlessly; to force something on an unwilling person; and to impress an idea on someone's mind, drive it home, as in Cicero.^[2][5] Lewis & Short note it is classical especially in the figurative sense.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to trample in, mix in, impress upon, force upon.^[6] Its participle inculcātus gave English inculcate in the 1540s.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of impressing ideas.^[2][4]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of treading in.^[2][4]
• 1540s – English inculcate is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To trample, tread in.^[2]
2. To insert; to force on someone.^[2]
3. To impress, inculcate, drive home.^[2]

Word family

• inculcatio
• inculcator

Related words

• calcō
• calx
• conculcō
• English inculcate

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson