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interdico

Etymology and origin of the Latin word interdico

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (dīcō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪn.tɛrˈdiː.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.terˈdiː.ko][1]

Forms

interdīcō (present infinitive interdīcere, perfect active interdīxī, supine interdictum); third conjugation, irregular short imperative[1]

Etymology

It is from inter- (“between”) and dīcō “to say”: literally to speak in between, interpose.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of forbidding something.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to forbid, veto, as in Cicero, also to enjoin, and with a dative and ablative to prohibit someone from something, as Caesar's barring of all Gaul to the Romans.[2][5] Aquā et ignī interdīcere, “to forbid water and fire”, was the formula of outlawry, as early as Lucilius.[2] In law the praetor issued an interdict, an injunction, as in Cicero.[2] Döderlein says vetō forbids by law, interdīcere by official authority.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to interpose, forbid, prohibit.[7] It survives in French interdire and Spanish entredecir.[1] English interdict came through Old French entredit about 1300, first of a Church ban.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of forbidding.[2][4]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses the formula of outlawry.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the praetor's interdicts.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English interdict is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To forbid, prohibit.[2]
  2. To enjoin.[2]
  3. To debar (someone from something), aquā et ignī interdīcere, to outlaw.[2]
  4. (law) To issue an interdict.[2]

Word family

  • interdictiō
  • interdictor
  • interdictum

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 l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Interdico.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/interdico. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·