introitus

Forms

introitus m (genitive introitūs); fourth declension^[1] Inscriptions have an ablative singular introitō and plural introitīs.^[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin introeō (“to go in”) + -tus.^[2][1][3] The verb is formed from intrō (“inside”) and eō (“to go”), which goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- (“to go”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero,^[5] who distinguishes keeping a man from entering a place and keeping him from approaching it at all.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is a going in, an entrance, and in Cicero also a hostile entry, as Marcellus' entry into Syracuse.^[2] It is also a means or right of entry, a way in or entrance, and in geography the mouth of a river or harbour.^[2][6] Pliny the Younger uses it of entry into a council and the fee paid for it.^[2] Figuratively it is a beginning or introduction, as Cicero's opening of a defence.^[2][6]

In Church Latin it is the introit, the chant sung as the priest approaches the altar.^[7][1][8] Medieval texts also use it of entry into an office, of a relief paid to a lord, of an import duty and of revenue.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero of entering and of the opening of a speech.^[2][5]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar of soldiers entering a town.^[6][5]
• Middle Ages – The introit of the Mass; entry into an office.^[7]
• late 15th century – Borrowed into English as introit, through Old French.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A going in, entrance; a hostile entry.^[2][6][1]
2. A means or right of entry; a way in; the mouth of a river or harbour.^[2][6][1]
3. Entry into a body or office; an entrance fee.^[2][1][7]
4. A beginning, introduction.^[2][6][1]
5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The introit.^[7][1]
6. (Medieval Latin) A relief paid to a lord; an import duty; revenue.^[7]

Related words

• introeō
• introitōrius
• English introit

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com