reductio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [rɛˈdʊk.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈduk.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

reductiō f (genitive reductiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from redūcō “to bring back” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of bringing back from exile.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a bringing back, restoration, as of the king of Egypt in Cicero's letters, and in Vitruvius a drawing back or up.^[2][5][6] Lewis & Short call it very rare.^[5]

British Medieval Latin used it for bringing back to a proper position, in law, and in medicine.^[7] Through Old French it gave English reduction in the early 15th century, first “a restoring to a former state”.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][4]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of drawing back.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English reduction is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bringing back, restoration.^[2]
2. A drawing back.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A restoring to a proper position, reduction.^[7]

Related words

• redūcō
• redūctō
• reductor
• reductus
• dūcō
• English reduction

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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b 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