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patefacio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word patefacio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (pateō,faciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pa.tɛˈfa.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [pa.teˈfaː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

patefaciō (present infinitive patefacere, perfect active patefēcī, supine patefactum); third (-iō variant) conjugation, suppletive[1]

Etymology

It is from pateō “to be open” and faciō “to make”.[2][1][3] Ennius and Lucretius scan the second syllable long, ⟨patē-⟩.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Ennius, of laying something bare.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to uncover, reveal, lay bare, as in Ennius, in medicine to expose by dissection, and to open gates, doors or containers, as in Plautus.[2] With aurēs it meant to lend a hearing, as Cicero's ears opened to flatterers.[2][5] It meant to open up a territory, clear a space, and with iter or viam to open a road, as in Cicero, and figuratively to provide an opportunity.[2][5] In war it meant to deploy troops, and to expose them to attack.[2] It also meant to disclose, reveal, as in Terence, and to bring to light, as in Cicero.[2] The passive is patefīō.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to open, lay open, expose.[6]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of laying bare.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of opening doors.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of disclosing.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of opening roads and lending an ear.[2][5][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To uncover, lay bare.[2]
  2. To open (gates, doors, containers).[2]
  3. To open up (territory, a road); to provide (an opportunity).[2]
  4. To deploy (troops); to expose.[2]
  5. To disclose, reveal; to bring to light.[2]

Word family

  • patefactiō

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 o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Patefacio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/patefacio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·