inductivus

Forms

inductīvus (feminine inductīva, neuter inductīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin indūcō + -īvus,^[1][2][3] on the stem of the past participle ⟨induct-⟩.^[4] In Priscian's grammar it renders Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós, “hypothetical”),^[2][5] and as a term of logic ἐπακτικός (epaktikós, “inductive”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Priscian (6th century AD)^[6] uses it of what relates to an assumption, that is, hypothetical.^[7][2][8]

Semantic evolution

Boethius, in his translation of Aristotle's Topics, uses it for inductive propositions and reasoning.^[3][8] Caelius Aurelianus has an adverb inductive, by yielding.^[7]

In Medieval Latin it meant leading to, bringing about or causing something, and persuasive or urging; in logic it kept the sense of proceeding from particulars to universals.^[5][9] Robert Grosseteste and Bartholomaeus Anglicus use it with a genitive of what is caused.^[9] Neo-Latin writers kept the sense of leading to something.^[10] English inductive (early 15th century) first meant “bringing on, inducing”, and the logical sense appears in 1764.^[4]

Timeline

• 6th century AD – Priscian uses it in the sense “hypothetical”.^[2][6]
• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it in Medieval Latin.^[6]
• early 15th century – English inductive appears, meaning “bringing on”.^[4]
• 1764 – English inductive is first used as a term of logic.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to an assumption, hypothetical.^[7][2][8]
2. (logic) Inductive, proceeding from particulars to universals.^[3][5][8]
3. (Medieval Latin) Leading to, bringing about, causing.^[5][9]
4. (Medieval Latin) Persuasive, urging.^[5]

Related words

• inductiō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
9. ^ a b c 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
10. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de