Etymologically
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protectio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [proːˈteːk.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [proˈtɛk.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

prōtēctiō f (genitive prōtēctiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin protego (“to cover in front, protect”) + -tiō.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Tertullian uses it of the protection of faith, in his work on flight in persecution.[3][4] Köbler dates Tertullian c. 160–220 AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

Lewis & Short call it post-classical, first a covering over and then protection.[3] A title in the Digest uses it of covering with a projecting roof, and a declamation ascribed to Quintilian of defence.[4] Ambrose speaks of the protection of arms, and the Vulgate of God's protection in the Psalms.[3][4] Glossaries explain it as defence, support and help.[6]

In medieval Latin it was used in law codes, charters and formulae.[5] English protection is recorded in the mid-14th century as shelter or defence.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it of the protection of faith.[3][5]
  • c. 340–397 AD – Ambrose speaks of the protection of arms.[3][5]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of God's protection.[3][5]
  • mid-14th century – English protection is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A covering with a projecting roof.[4]
  2. protection, shelter, defence.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com