notatio

Pronunciation

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

Forms

notātiō f (genitive notātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from notō “to mark, note” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨notō⟩ is from nota “mark”, whose origin de Vaan finds unclear.^[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is the Rhetorica ad Herennium, which he dates 86/82 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the putting of a mark on something, as of voting tablets in Cicero, and the censors' mark of disgrace; a letter or symbol standing for a word, an abbreviation, as P. for Publius; the explanation of a word by its derivation, Cicero's rendering of Greek ⟨etumología⟩; defining; observation; and singling out, choice.^[2][6][7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was observation, noting, designation, characterising.^[8] British Medieval Latin used it for marking.^[9] English notation (1560s) first meant the explanation of a term.^[3]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.^[5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for etymology.^[2][5]
• 1560s – English notation is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A marking; the censors' mark of disgrace.^[2][7]
2. An abbreviation, symbol.^[2]
3. Etymology, explanation of a word.^[2]
4. Observation; choice.^[2]

Related words

• nota
• notātus
• notula
• notō
• etymologia
• English notation

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. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ 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