Etymologically
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modifico

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [mɔˈdɪ.fɪ.koː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [moˈdiː.fi.ko][1]

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

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