restrictus

Forms

restrictus (feminine restricta, neuter restrictum, comparative restrictior, superlative restrictissimus); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin restringō (“to bind tightly, draw back”), its past participle, used as an adjective.^[2][1][3]

It is the source of English restrict.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first author is Cicero,^[3] who calls certain men restrictōs et tenācēs, “close-fisted and tight”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense, drawn tight, is rare: Suetonius uses it of a tight toga and of the short or contracted toes of Domitian.^[5][6][2] The figurative senses are commoner: sparing or stingy, as Cicero says of one careful with others' money;^[2][6] austere or strict, as when Tacitus speaks of supreme power that is not strict;^[2][6] modest or reticent, in Pliny the Younger;^[2][5] and, of judgement, exacting, in Apuleius.^[2]

An Old High German gloss renders it with unlang.^[3] In British Medieval Latin a noun restrictus meant a legal restriction (1448).^[7][3] English made the verb restrict from the participle in the 1530s.^[4]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of stingy men.^[2][3]
• c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of a tight toga.^[5][6][3]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of strict rule.^[2][6][3]
• 1448 – A noun restrictus “restriction” appears in a register in British sources.^[7]
• 1530s – English restrict is formed from it.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Drawn tight, tight; contracted, short.^[2][5][6]
2. stingy, niggardly, sparing.^[2][5][6]
3. austere, strict.^[2][6]
4. modest, reticent.^[2][5]
5. (of judgement) Rigorously exact.^[2]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, law) A restriction.^[7][3]

Related words

• restringō
• English restrict

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b c 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