Etymologically

reductio

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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]

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