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nuntio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word nuntio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (nūntius)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnuːn.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnun.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

nūntiō (present infinitive nūntiāre, perfect active nūntiāvī, supine nūntiātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from nūntium “message” or nūntius “messenger” with the verb suffix -ō.[2][1][3] An inscription has ⟨nont-⟩, and ⟨nunc-⟩ is a later spelling.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of announcing and of conveying a message.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bring word of a fact, announce, report, strictly by word of mouth, as in Plautus, Terence and Caesar, and to give instruction to someone.[2] From Plautus it meant to deliver a message, salūtem nūntiāre to convey greetings.[2] In Cicero it meant to give warning of a future event, of augurs to report omens, and of things to indicate.[2] In Virgil it meant to announce an arrival.[2] In law it meant to notify the authorities, as in Apuleius, and in Gaius opus novum nūntiāre to give notice to a neighbour against building work.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to announce, proclaim, declare, denounce.[5] Its compound annūntiāre gave Old French anoncier and English announce about 1500.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of announcing.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it with the nominative and infinitive.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of reporting omens.[2][4]
  • 140–180 AD – Gaius uses opus novum nūntiāre.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To announce, report.[2]
  2. To give instructions.[2]
  3. To deliver (a message), salūtem nūntiāre, to send greetings.[2]
  4. To give warning of; to announce the arrival of.[2]
  5. (augury) To report omens.[2]
  6. To indicate, betoken.[2]
  7. (law) To notify the authorities.[2]

Word family

  • adnūntiō
  • dēnūntiō
  • ēnūntiō
  • internuntiō
  • nūntiātiō
  • nuntiātor
  • nuntiatrix
  • obnūntiō
  • praenūntiō
  • prōnūntiō
  • renūntiō
  • annūntiō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Nuntio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/nuntio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·