motio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈmoː.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔt.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

mōtiō f (genitive mōtiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *mowetjō, equivalent to moveō “to move” with the suffix -tiō.^[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of motion.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant movement, motion, as Cicero's prīncipium mōtiōnis “the beginning of motion” and the motion of bodies, and in philosophy rendering Ancient Greek ἐνδελέχεια (endelékheia).^[2][5][6] In Celsus it meant a shivering fit, and in Ulpian removal.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant motion, movement, action, emotion.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for a military campaign, a revolt and a claim.^[8] It survives in Italian mozione and French motion, and Old French gave English motion in the late 14th century, “process of moving”, also “a proposal”.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of motion.^[2][4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of a shivering fit.^[2][4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of removal.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English motion is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Movement, motion.^[2]
2. (medicine) A shivering fit.^[2]
3. Removal.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) A campaign; a revolt.^[8]

Word family

• mōtiuncula

Related words

• moveō
• mōtus
• English motion

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill