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nominatio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word nominatio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Rhetorica ad Herennium
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*h₁nómn̥)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [noː.mɪˈnaː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [no.miˈnat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

nōminātiō f (genitive nōminātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from nōminō “to name” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨nōminō⟩ is from nōmen “name”.[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨nōmen⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *h₃neh₃-mn̥ (“name”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of the figure of giving a name.[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the giving of a name, in rhetoric a figure of speech; a name, term, as in Vitruvius; and nomination, designation for an office, as in Cicero.[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was naming, nomination, appointment, and in canon law a nomination by privilege other than patronage.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for naming, as of the persons of the Trinity.[8] English nomination (early 15th century, “act of mentioning by name”) is from it.[3]

Timeline

  • 86/82 BC – the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of nomination to office.[2][5]
  • early 15th century – English nomination is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A naming; a name, term.[2]
  2. Nomination, designation for office.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Nominatio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/nominatio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·