Etymologically
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participatio

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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]

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