notio

Forms

nōtiō f (genitive nōtiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from nōscō “to get to know”, through its participle nōtus, with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, quid tibi hanc nōtiōst? “what business have you with her?”.^[2][4][5] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Plautus it meant acquaintance with a person.^[2][4] In Cicero it meant a judicial inquiry, as of the censors, and a concept, idea.^[2] Etymonline says Cicero used it to translate the Greek ennoia.^[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a notion, idea, conception, or examination.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for knowledge, understanding.^[8] It was borrowed into French notion, Italian nozione and Spanish noción, and gave English notion in the late 14th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of acquaintance.^[2][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of inquiry and of a concept.^[2][6]
• late 14th century – English notion is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Acquaintance.^[2]
2. A judicial inquiry.^[2]
3. A concept, idea, notion.^[2]

Related words

• nōscō
• nōtitia
• English notion

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 c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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