participatio

Forms

participātiō f (genitive participātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from participō “to share in” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Apuleius, of sharing.^[2] Köbler dates Apuleius c. 125–175 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant participation, sharing, as in Apuleius, and apparently a participle.^[2]

In Christian Latin it meant having a part, sharing, communion.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it for sharing with others, and of a crime, complicity.^[6] It survives in Italian partecipazione, French participation and Spanish participación, and gave English participation in the late 14th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of sharing.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English participation is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Participation, sharing.^[2]
2. A participle.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Complicity.^[6]

Related words

• participō
• particeps
• English participation

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b 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