Etymologically
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indicatio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪn.dɪˈkaː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.diˈkat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

indicātiō f (genitive indicātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin indicō (“to point out, put a price on”) + -tiō.[2][1][3] ⟨indicō⟩ is from in- and dicō (“to proclaim, dedicate”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus' Persa, of setting a price.[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the setting of a price on a thing, valuation, value, as in Plautus and Pliny, and in the jurists, as in Ulpian, a statement, declaration.[2][6][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a direction, indication, reference.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for a declaration, statement, revelation.[8] English indication (early 15th century, “a sign”) is from it, as are French indication, Italian indicazione and Spanish indicación.[3][1] German Indikation in medicine also comes from it.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a price.[2][5]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it.[4][5]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of a declaration.[2][5]
  • early 15th century – English indication is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The setting of a price, valuation.[2]
  2. A statement, declaration.[2]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A direction, indication.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ 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