Etymologically
Log in

recommendo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 18:51. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

recommendo (present infinitive recommendare); first conjugation[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin re- + commendō (“to entrust, commend”), formed in Medieval Latin.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it first in charters of 961.[3]

Semantic evolution

Niermeyer gives a wide range of senses: to grant anew, to entrust, to summon or notify someone, to praise or commend someone, and even to confine or imprison.[1] In British sources it is used of commending a person or a soul to God, a body to burial, or something to memory, of presenting someone as worthy of favour, and of praising.[2] Du Cange records the phrase recommendare castrum, to entrust the keeping of a castle to someone.[5]

English took it over as recommend in the late 14th century.[4]

Timeline

  • 961 – First recorded, in charters.[3]
  • 1216 – A charter speaks of entrusting a castle.[5]
  • 1225 – A British record uses it for praising someone's constancy.[2]
  • late 14th century – Borrowed into English as recommend.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Medieval Latin) To entrust, commit; to commend a soul to God.[1][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) To grant anew.[1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) To summon, notify.[1]
  4. (Medieval Latin) To recommend, praise; to present as worthy of favour.[1][2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) To confine, imprison.[1]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre