Etymologically
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inicio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈjɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈjiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

iniciō (present infinitive inicere, perfect active iniēcī, supine iniectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1] It is also spelled iniiciō, the first syllable is usually long, and Plautus has iniexit for iniēcerit.[2]

Etymology

It is from in- “in, on” and iaciō “to throw”, with the vowel of the stem weakened to ⟨i⟩ in the compound.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of throwing something in.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to throw in or on, as in Plautus, and in Accius to hurl missiles.[2] In Caesar it meant to make people rush in, and to lay something on, as earth on a rampart; in Plautus to throw a garment over someone.[2] In Catullus manum inicere meant to lay hands on, in Terence to drop a remark, and in Plautus to instil a feeling or idea.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to throw in, inject, cause, inspire.[4] Its participle iniectus gave English inject about 1600, first in medicine.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of throwing in and instilling.[2][3]
  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of hurling missiles.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of laying on.[2][3]
  • c. 1600 – English inject is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To throw in or on; to hurl.[2]
  2. To make rush in.[2]
  3. To lay on; to throw over (a garment).[2]
  4. manum inicere, to lay hands on.[2]
  5. To drop (a remark).[2]
  6. To instil, inspire.[2]

Word family

  • circuminicio
  • iniectiō
  • iniectīuus
  • iniectō
  • injectus
  • superiniciō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com