Etymologically
Log in

intercludo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 19:05. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪn.tɛrˈkɫuː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.terˈkluː.do][1]

Forms

interclūdō (present infinitive interclūdere, perfect active interclūsī, supine interclūsum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from inter- “between” and claudō “to shut”.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨claudō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂u-d- (“to shut”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of blocking a road.[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to make impassable, block, cut, as of roads, the sea or a flight in Caesar; to choke, stifle the breath or voice, as in Varro; to separate, cut off from; to cut off someone's advance or passage; to prevent a person from acting; and to hinder, obstruct, all in Cicero.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to block, hinder, shut off.[6] British Medieval Latin glossaries misread it as a noun, a screen, barrier.[7]

Timeline

  • 86/82 BC – the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of stifling.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of cutting off.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To block, make impassable.[2]
  2. To choke, stifle.[2]
  3. To cut off, separate.[2]
  4. To prevent, hinder.[2]

Word family

  • interclūsiō

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ 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