praetentio

Forms

praetentiō f (genitive praetentiōnis); third declension^[1][2] It is also spelled pretentio.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is a medieval formation from Latin praetendō (“to stretch out before, put forward”).^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first record to a charter of 999, in the sense of a challenge.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In medieval charters it meant a challenge or contestation of a right.^[3][2] Du Cange glosses it as a right or claim, French prétention, quoting a charter of 1101 of Bertrand, archbishop of Narbonne, who makes a gift to a monastery absque omni praetentione, “without any claim”.^[4] In the medieval Latin of Poland it meant a pretext.^[1]

Timeline

• 999 – A charter uses it for a challenge.^[2]
• 1101 – A charter of Bertrand, archbishop of Narbonne, uses it for a claim.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A challenge, contestation.^[3][2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A right or claim.^[4]
3. (Medieval Latin) A pretext.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
2. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre