propagatio

Forms

prōpāgātiō f (genitive prōpāgātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from prōpāgō “to propagate (plants)” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of propagating plants by layers.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Cato 234–149 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the propagation of a plant by layers or slips, as of vines in Cicero, and Columella names three kinds in use.^[2][5] In Cicero it meant the continuing of a family by procreation, the handing down to posterity, and the extension of something in time.^[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant spreading, extension.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for the reproduction of plants and of human offspring.^[8] It survives in Italian propagazione and Spanish propagación, and through Old French it gave English propagation in the mid-15th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of plants.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of families and of prolongation.^[2][4]
• mid-15th century – English propagation is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The propagation of plants by layers.^[2]
2. The continuing of a family.^[2]
3. Transmission to posterity.^[2]
4. Extension in time, prolongation.^[2]

Related words

• prōpāgō
• English propagation

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ 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