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obiectum

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word obiectum

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
81–43 BC, Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin obiciō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin obicio
Latin obiectum
French objet
Italian oggetto
From the same root
Latin obiectus ← obicio
English object ← obiectum

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɔbˈjɛk.tũː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [obˈjɛk.tum][1]

Forms

obiectum n (genitive obiectī); second declension[1] Medieval Latin also objectum.[2][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin obiciō (“to throw before, put in the way; to reproach”), the neuter of its perfect passive participle used as a noun.[3][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero (81–43 BC) uses it in De fato for something presented to sight, which stamps its likeness on the mind as if with a seal.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

In classical Latin the usual sense was “a charge, an accusation”, in Ovid, Quintilian and Tacitus.[3][4][5] The scholastic philosophers made it the object of the mind or will, “a thing put before” it,[5][2][6] and Köbler also records “objection, evasion”.[2] It is the source of Italian oggetto,[4] and of English object, borrowed in the late 14th century through Old French and directly from Medieval Latin.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for something presented to the senses.[3][2]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it for charges or accusations.[3][2]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it for charges to be denied or answered.[3][4][2]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as object.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A charge, accusation, reproach.[3][4]
  2. (philosophy) Something presented to the senses, an object.[3]
  3. (Medieval Latin) An object of the mind or will; a thing.[6][5][2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) An objection.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson

Borrowed into

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Obiectum.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/obiectum. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·