Etymologically
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recipio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɛˈkɪ.pi.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈt͡ʃiː.pi.o][1]

Forms

recipiō (present infinitive recipere, perfect active recēpī, supine receptum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin re- (“back”) + capiō (“to take”), with the Old Latin weakening of unstressed /a/ to /i/.[2][1] The verb capiō is inherited from Proto-Italic *kap-i- (“to seize”), which de Vaan derives from PIE *kh₂p-i- or from a non-Indo-European *kap-i-.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler and the OLD give Plautus first, with a remark that all sorts of people are welcome if they have something to give.[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4] Cato has an old future recipie.[2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was to take back, regain, recover, or recapture a city, and reflexively to withdraw or retreat.[5][1] It also meant to admit a person as a guest, to friendship or citizenship, or into a group; of openings and spaces, to let in or have room for.[2] It meant to receive as one's due, to be willing to accept, to approve or allow, and to take upon oneself as a duty, to undertake or guarantee.[2][1]

The imperative recipe “take!” headed doctors' prescriptions, and gave English recipe in the 1580s.[6] The verb survives in Italian ricevere, French recevoir and Spanish recibir, and English receive is recorded about 1300.[1][6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of welcoming guests.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses the old future recipie.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English receive is recorded.[6]
  • 1580s – English recipe, a medical prescription, is recorded from the imperative recipe.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To take back, recover; to recapture.[5][1]
  2. (reflexive) To withdraw, retreat.[1]
  3. To admit, welcome as a guest; to admit to friendship or citizenship.[2]
  4. (of spaces) To let in, have room for.[2]
  5. To receive as one's due, acquire.[2]
  6. To accept; to approve, allow.[2]
  7. To take upon oneself, undertake.[1]

Word family

  • receptibilis
  • receptīcius
  • receptiō
  • receptō
  • receptorius
  • receptus
  • reciperō
  • ūsūrecipiō
  • receptor
  • receptrīx

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com