inventum

Forms

inventum n (genitive inventī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of inventus, perfect participle of inveniō “to come upon, find”, used as a noun.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of a contrivance.^[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a thing devised, a plan, contrivance, as in Terence's curse on someone cum istōc inventō “with that invention of yours”; in rhetoric a topic or argument for a speech; and a discovery, invention, as in Cicero.^[2][5][3]

In Medieval Latin it was the right to seize strayed property.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a thing found, glossed Middle English fundles.^[7]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a discovery.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A discovery, invention.^[2]
2. A device, contrivance, plan; a topic.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A thing found; the right to strayed property.^[7][6]

Related words

• inveniō
• inventiō
• inventor

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b 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