Etymologically
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instructio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈstruːk.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈstruk.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

īnstrūctiō f (genitive īnstrūctiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from īnstruō “to build, arrange, equip” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of drawing up troops.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates the Rhetorica 86/82 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the drawing up of troops, a battle formation, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium, and in Pliny the Elder construction.[2] In Apuleius it meant equipping, fitting out, and in Ulpian training, instruction.[2]

In Christian Latin it meant teaching, instruction.[5][6] In canon law an īnstrūctiō is a document explaining particular laws.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for building, as of fortresses and bridges.[7] It survives in Italian istruzione and French instruction, and through Old French it gave English instruction about 1400.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of troops.[2][4]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of construction.[2][4]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of training.[2][4]
  • c. 1400 – English instruction is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The marshalling of troops; a formation.[2]
  2. Construction.[2]
  3. Equipping.[2]
  4. Training, instruction.[2]

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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ 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