relatio

Pronunciation

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

Forms

relātiō f (genitive relātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from ⟨relāt-⟩, the supine stem of referō “to bring back, report”, with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of balancing opposites.^[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In the Rhetorica ad Herennium it meant the balancing of opposites, and in Cicero the laying of a matter before the Senate, a motion, and the retorting of a charge on the accuser.^[2] In Quintilian it meant reference to a standard, and carrying back, as the pen dipped again and again in the ink.^[2][6] In Seneca it meant repayment of a kindness, and in Vitruvius narration.^[2] Isidore defines relātiō crīminis as the plea that an act was lawful because the other side had first done wrong.^[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a report, relation, relātiō annuālis an annual report.^[8] British Medieval Latin used it for bringing back, as of the child Jesus from Egypt.^[9] It survives in Italian relazione and French relation, and Anglo-French relacioun gave English relation about 1300.^[1][4]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it in rhetoric.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a motion in the Senate.^[2][5]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of narration.^[2][5]
• c. 1300 – English relation is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A motion before the Senate.^[2]
2. (rhetoric) The balancing of opposites.^[2]
3. Reference to a standard.^[2]
4. A retort of a charge; repayment.^[2]
5. Narration.^[2]
6. Carrying back.^[2]
7. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A report, relation.^[8]

Related words

• referō
• relātus
• English relation

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
8. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ 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