Etymologically
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interficio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪn.tɛrˈfɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.terˈfiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

interficiō (present infinitive interficere, perfect active interfēcī, supine interfectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from inter- “between” and faciō “to do, make”.[2][1] Wiktionary compares English euphemisms such as “do in” and “do away with”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of putting to death.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to put to death, kill, as in Naevius, and in Cato to destroy material things; in Plautus it meant to put a stop to things not material.[2] Döderlein explains that interficere and perimere are the most general words for killing, by whatever means and for whatever motive.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to kill, slay, destroy, murder.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of killing.[2][3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of putting a stop to something.[2][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of destroying things.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To kill, put to death.[2]
  2. To destroy.[2]
  3. To put a stop to.[2]

Word family

  • interfectibilis
  • interfectiō
  • interfectiuus
  • interfector
  • interfectrīx

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it and perimō from more specific words for killing.[4]

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 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. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson