modifico

Forms

modificō (present infinitive modificāre, perfect active modificāvī, supine modificātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin modus (“measure”) + -ficō,^[2][3][4] that is, to give a measure to something.^[5][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it first, in De Oratore, of the clauses of a period, which must be measured out in rhythm.^[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

Cicero also applies it to words adapted by the orator from their usual sense.^[8][6] In the 2nd century AD a deponent modificor appears: Gellius uses it of working out a stature from the measure of Hercules' foot, and Apuleius, with a dative, of setting limits to the untimely wishes of children.^[2][6] Fronto has it of restraint,^[5][9] and in the passive it meant to keep within due measure.^[5][8] Augustine speaks of regulating the vital motions.^[5][8]

English modify came from it through Old French in the late 14th century.^[4]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero, of clauses measured in rhythm.^[2][7]
• 100–170 AD – Fronto, of setting limits.^[5][7]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius has the deponent with a dative.^[2][7]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses the deponent of calculating a measure.^[2][7]
• 354–430 AD – Augustine, of regulating motion.^[5][7]
• late 14th century – English modify, through Old French.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To shape according to a measure or pattern, regulate.^[2][5][8]
2. To adapt (words) from their usual use.^[8][6]
3. (deponent) To work out, calculate.^[2]
4. To set limits to, restrain (with dative).^[2][5]
5. (passive) To keep within due measure, moderate oneself.^[5][8][6]

Word family

• modificātiō
• modificātor
• modificātus
• modificus

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
8. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
9. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn