repressivus

Forms

repressīvus, repressīva, repressīvum; first and second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin repressus (“held back”) + -īvus, repressus being the past participle of reprimō (“to press back, check”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a medieval word;^[1] Köbler gives its first record as before 1250,^[1] and the British sources use it in medicine of what subdues an illness, a symptom or a bodily condition.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In the Quaestiones Salernitanae and in Gilbertus Anglicus it describes a remedy that checks an opposing condition, and Bartholomaeus Anglicus says that salt checks the swelling of dropsy.^[2] Used as a noun, the neuter plural named repressive remedies: Peter of Blois writes that while a disease is still growing he used repressiva rather than purging.^[2][3]

English repressive, first a medical word, came in the early 15th century from Old French repressif and directly from this Medieval Latin adjective.^[4]

Timeline

• before 1250 – Köbler's first record.^[1]
• early 15th century – English borrows it, in medicine, as repressive.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin, medicine) That checks or subdues an illness or symptom; repressive.^[2][3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin, medicine, as a noun in the neuter) A remedy that checks a disease.^[2][3]

Related words

• repressio
• English repressive

References

1. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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 du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com