misculo

Forms

misculō (present infinitive misculāre, perfect active misculāvī, supine misculātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin misceō (“to mix”),^[2][1] perhaps on the model of maculō, or a reshaping of the Late Latin forms ⟨miscuere⟩ and ⟨miscuare⟩, built on the perfect ⟨miscuī⟩.^[1] Compare Old High German miskilōn (“to mix”).^[1] Its Vulgar Latin form *misculō gave Occitan mesclar, Spanish mezclar and Italian mescolare and Old French mesler, from which English meddle comes.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is attested from the 9th century.^[1] The capitularies of the Frankish kings use it of adulterating gold or silver by mixing.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides “to mix”, Hincmar used it reflexively for meddling in something.^[2]

Timeline

• 9th century – Hincmar uses it reflexively, “to meddle in”.^[2][4]
• 4th quarter of the 12th century – The Mappae clavicula uses it for mixing in a recipe.^[2][4]
• early 14th century – English meddle, from Old French, appears with the sense “to mix”.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Medieval Latin) To mix.^[2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin, reflexive) To meddle in something.^[2]

Related words

• English meddle

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Novum Glossarium Mediae Latinitatis ab anno DCCC usque ad annum MCC (1957–), Copenhagen / Geneva / Paris: Union Académique Internationale; IRHT
3. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de