Etymologically
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radiatio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:04. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ra.diˈaː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ra.diˈat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

radiātiō f (genitive radiātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from radiō “to shine” with the suffix -tiō, from radius “ray”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Pliny the Elder, whom he dates 23/24–79 AD, and Pliny uses it of the gleam of marble.[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a gleam, dazzle, a shining, as of marble in Pliny the Elder and of stars in Arnobius.[2][5][6] Lewis & Short note it is post-Augustan.[5]

British Medieval Latin used it for the emitting of rays of light, and of the aspects of the stars.[7] It gave English radiation in the mid-15th century, “act of emitting light”.[3]

Timeline

  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it.[4][5]
  • mid-15th century – English radiation is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A gleam, shining, radiation.[2]

References

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