indicium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈdɪ.ki.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈdiː.t͡ʃi.um]^[1]

Forms

indicium n (genitive indiciī or indicī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from index “informer, pointer”, from indicō “to point out”, with the suffix -ium.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, in indicium facere “to give information”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant disclosure, information, as in Ovid, and in Plautus indicium facere to give away a secret, lay information.^[2] In Cicero it meant a token, a memorial, and a sign that happens to show a fact, an indication, evidence.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant evidence, proof, sign, mark, disclosure.^[4] British Medieval Latin used it for a sign, token, proof.^[5] It was borrowed into Italian indizio and Spanish indicio.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses indicium facere.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a sign, evidence.^[2][3]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of disclosure.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Disclosure, information.^[2]
2. indicium facere, to inform.^[2]
3. A token, symbol.^[2]
4. A sign, evidence.^[2]

Related words

• index
• indicābilis
• indicātiō
• indicātīvus
• indicātor
• indicātūra
• indicīna
• indicō
• indiculum
• doctrīna

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
5. ^ 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