Etymologically
Log in

paciscor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word paciscor

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [paˈkiːs.kɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [paˈt͡ʃis.kor][1]

Forms

pacīscor (present infinitive pacīscī, perfect active pactus sum); third conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is an inchoative of pacō “to agree”, with the inchoative suffix, related to pāx “peace” and pangō “to fix”.[1][2][3] An active form is also found.[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of agreeing to a price and of coming to terms.[4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to negotiate, make an agreement, as Cicero's dealings with someone, to agree to a price as one's part of a bargain, and in law to agree a settlement for an offence.[4][3] It meant to secure something by bargaining, to come to terms, as in Plautus, and in Livy to become engaged in marriage.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to make a bargain or covenant.[6] English pact comes from its participle used as a noun, pactum “agreement”, in the early 15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of bargaining.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of making agreements.[4][3][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of betrothal.[4][5]
  • early 15th century – English pact is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To negotiate, make an agreement.[4]
  2. To agree to (a price).[4]
  3. (law) To settle, compromise.[4]
  4. To bargain for.[4]
  5. To come to terms.[4]
  6. To become engaged (in marriage).[4]

Word family

  • pactum

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Paciscor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/paciscor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·