Etymologically
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ratus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈra.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈraː.tus][1]

Forms

ratus (feminine rata, neuter ratum); first/second-declension participle[1]

Etymology

It is the perfect participle of reor “to reckon, think”.[2][1] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *rato- (“thought, counted”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hr̥h₁-tó-, and compares Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌸𐌾𐍉 (raþjō, “number, account”).[3]

The old sense “counted” survives in ⟨prō ratā parte⟩ “in proportion”, and ratiō was formed from it.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates reor and ratus from Plautus, and Köbler lists Plautus first.[3][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

Reckoned, then fixed and valid: in Cicero it meant having legal force, ratified, and in Terence regarded as valid, established; it also meant determined, fixed, certain, as in Cicero's mōtūs ratī “fixed motions” of the heavens.[2][3] Rata pars “a fixed proportion” and prō ratā (parte) “in proportion” are the source of English rate (early 15th century) through Medieval Latin rata.[3][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant valid, settled, ratified, reckoned.[6] Medieval Latin used it for accepted, acceptable.[7] Medieval Latin ratificāre “to confirm”, from ratus, gave English ratify in the 14th century.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses reor and its participle.[3][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of what is held valid.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of legal validity and in prō ratā parte.[2][3][4]
  • early 15th century – English rate is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Having legal force, valid, ratified.[2]
  2. Regarded as valid, established.[2]
  3. Fixed, determined, certain.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Accepted, acceptable.[7]

Word family

  • irritus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill