Etymologically
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interrogatio

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɪn.tɛr.rɔˈɡaː.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [in.ter.roˈɡat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

interrogātiō f (genitive interrogātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin interrogō (“to question”) + -tiō.[2][1] interrogō is inter (“between”) and rogō (“to ask”), which de Vaan explains as a verb made from a noun Proto-Italic *rogo- (“request; stretching out”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃roǵ-o- (“stretching”), perhaps of the arms when begging.[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,[4] who speaks of someone obstructing the cause of the tax farmers with very stupid questions.[2]

Semantic evolution

It is the putting of questions, especially the examination of witnesses, as Tacitus' frequent questions that made the watchword known, and a single question or inquiry.[2][5] In rhetoric it is the figure of the rhetorical question, and in philosophy an argument conducted by question and answer, a syllogism, as Cicero speaks of those who conclude nothing by a proper argument.[2][1] The Itala and the Vulgate use it in the First Epistle of Peter of baptism as the appeal or pledge of a good conscience.[6][7] In Medieval Latin it is a hearing or session, a formal demand, a claim and a tallage.[8] English interrogation (late 14th century) is from Old French or directly from Latin.[9]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of questions and of dialectical argument.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of the rhetorical question.[2][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus of the examination of witnesses.[5][4]
  • late 14th century – English interrogation is formed from it.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A questioning, examination, interrogation; a question, inquiry.[2][5][1]
  2. (rhetoric) The use of rhetorical questions.[2]
  3. (philosophy) An argument by question and answer; a syllogism.[2][1]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A pledge, appeal.[7][6]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A hearing, session; a formal demand; a claim; a tallage.[8]

Word family

  • interrogātiuncula
  • interrogāmentum
  • interroganter
  • interrogātīvē
  • interrogātīvus
  • interrogātor
  • interrogātōrius
  • interrogō
  • English interrogation

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com