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iudico

Etymology and origin of the Latin word iudico

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈjuː.dɪ.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈjuː.di.ko][1]

Forms

iūdicō (present infinitive iūdicāre, perfect active iūdicāvī, supine iūdicātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from iūdex “judge” with the verbal suffix -ō.[2][3][1] Iūdex is a compound of iūs “law” and the root of dīcō “to say”.[3][1] Some early inscriptions spell it ⟨ioud-⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of judging a case and passing sentence.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In law it meant to judge, try or decide a case, to act as judge, with rēs iūdicāta “a matter already decided”, to adjudge or award, to sentence or condemn, and to pronounce judgement that something is so, as in Cicero.[2][3] It meant to decide officially, decree, as to declare someone a public enemy.[2] More generally it meant to make up one's mind, decide, to judge, estimate, to form the opinion that, consider, to approve, and to infer, conclude; in Seneca it meant to show discernment.[2] Döderlein says iūdicāre is to judge with the authority of a judge, cēnseō with that of a censor or senator.[5]

It survives in French juger, Italian giudicare and Spanish juzgar.[1] Through Anglo-French juger it is the source of English judge, recorded about 1200.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of judging and sentencing.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of judicial decisions and opinions.[2][4]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of showing discernment.[2][4]
  • c. 1200 – English judge is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To judge, try, decide (a case); to act as judge.[2]
  2. To adjudge; to sentence, condemn.[2]
  3. To pronounce judicially; to declare guilty.[2]
  4. To decree, declare officially.[2]
  5. To decide, make up one's mind.[2]
  6. To estimate, appraise.[2]
  7. To consider, be of the opinion (that).[2]
  8. To infer, conclude.[2]

Word family

  • abiūdicō
  • adiūdicō
  • dēiūdicō
  • dīiūdicō
  • iniūdicātus
  • iūdex
  • iūdicābilis
  • iūdicātiō
  • iūdicātōrius
  • iūdicātrīx
  • iūdicātum
  • iūdicātus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c 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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Iudico.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/iudico. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·