proportio
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Forms
prōportiō f (genitive prōportiōnis); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is a back-formation from the phrase ⟨prō portiōne⟩ “in proportion”, from prō and portiō “share”.[2][1][3]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, in grammar.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC.[4]
Semantic evolution
In Varro it was a grammatical term, analogy, and in Vitruvius the proper relation of parts, proportion.[2]
In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant proportion, comparative relation.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for a portion, a share of land.[6] It was borrowed into Italian proporzione and French proportion, and through Old French it gave English proportion in the late 14th century.[1][3]
Timeline
- 116–27 BC – Varro uses it in grammar.[2][4]
- c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of proportion.[2][4]
- late 14th century – English proportion is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Noun
Word family
- prōportiōnālis
- prōportiōnātus
Related words
- ratiō
- portiō
- English proportion
References
- ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
- ^ 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