Etymologically
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relatio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:48. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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]

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