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obicio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word obicio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*yeh₁-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɔbˈjɪ.ki.oː], [ɔˈbɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈjiː.t͡ʃi.o], [oˈbiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

obiciō (present infinitive obicere, perfect active obiēcī, supine obiectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1] Plautus has the old perfect subjunctives obiēxim and obiēxis.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from ob- “towards, against” and iaciō “to throw”.[2][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of putting food before animals.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to throw or put something before someone or in the way, as food to animals, to present to the eyes or mind, to bring misfortune upon someone, and to expose someone to danger, all in Plautus.[2] Lucretius used it of placing against, Varro of handing over, Livy of places lying opposite, and Cicero of interposing a barrier.[2] In Caesar religiōnem obicere was to raise a religious scruple, and in Cicero it meant to cite something against someone, to reproach them with it.[2]

Its participle obiectum “thing put before the mind” gave English object in the late 14th century, and obiectiō gave English objection.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar has religiōnem obicere.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of reproach.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English object is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To throw or put before.[2]
  2. To present (to the eyes or mind).[2]
  3. To bring upon; to expose to.[2]
  4. To put in the way, interpose.[2]
  5. To reproach with, object.[2]

Word family

  • ō̆bex
  • obiectiō
  • obiectō
  • obiectum
  • obiectus
  • obiectīvus
  • obiector

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Obicio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/obicio. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·