Etymologically
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notificatio

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Forms

nōtificātiō f (genitive nōtificātiōnis); third declension[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin nōtificō + -tiō, the action noun of the verb meaning “to make known”.[1][3][4] That verb is formed from nōtus (“known”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a medieval word;[1] Köbler's earliest source dates from about 1150.[1] Osbern of Gloucester lists it beside notificamen and demonstratio in his Derivationes.[6]

Semantic evolution

In British Medieval Latin it meant the act of making something known, a declaration or statement, a definition, and a text that is made known, such as the copy of a charter.[6] In Polish Latin it could also mean a mark or sign, such as a notch cut in a tally stick.[3] In Ecclesiastical Latin it is a notification, especially a clarification of an existing law.[2]

English took over the word as notification in the late 14th century, from Old French and directly from Medieval Latin.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1150 – The word is first recorded.[1]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as notificacioun, “a sign, a token”.[4]
  • 1390 – An Oxford formulary uses it of making one's mind known.[6]
  • 1518 – A Polish record uses it of a notch marking a quantity of salt.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of making known; a notification, communication.[6][1][2]
  2. A declaration or statement, also one claiming a qualification or exemption.[6][3]
  3. A definition.[6]
  4. Something made known; a copy of a text.[6]
  5. A mark or sign.[3]
  6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A clarification of an existing law, like a declaration.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  3. ^ a b c d e Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g 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