retractio

Forms

retractiō f (genitive retractiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin retrahō (“to draw back”) + -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Vitruvius uses it of stairs: the retractiōnēs of the steps are how far each step is set back, that is, the breadth of the tread.^[2][4][5]

Semantic evolution

Macrobius has it for the shortening of days, as opposed to their lengthening (auctiō),^[4][5] Arnobius for hesitation or refusal, in sine ūllā retractiōne, “without any hesitation”,^[4][5] and Boethius in arithmetic for a decrease, opposed to intentiō.^[3][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant a withdrawal or encroachment,^[6] and the abrogation of earlier rulings, as in the acts of a Council of Carthage of 525.^[7] British sources add the drawing of a sword, a shrinking back from an undertaking, the taking back of one's words, a reconsideration of a judgment, a withdrawal from a lawsuit and the ebb of the tide; it also named Augustine's book of corrections, the Retractations.^[8] English took it over as retraction, first as the English title of that book and for the withdrawal of an opinion.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the set-back of the steps of a stair.^[2][10]
• 297–310 AD – Arnobius uses it for hesitation.^[4][10]
• first half of the 5th century AD – Macrobius uses it for the shortening of days.^[4][10]
• 525 – A Council of Carthage uses it for the abrogation of earlier rulings.^[7]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as retraction.^[9]
• c. 1442 – An Oxford record uses it for the drawing of a sword.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. The setting back of a step; the breadth of the tread of a stair.^[2][4]
2. A shortening, decrease.^[4][5]
3. Hesitation, refusal, reluctance.^[4][5]
4. (Late Latin) Subtraction, decrease (in arithmetic).^[3][5]
5. (Medieval Latin) A withdrawal, taking away; an encroachment.^[6][8]
6. (Medieval Latin) Abrogation, repeal.^[7]
7. (Medieval Latin) The taking back of one's words, retraction; reconsideration of a judgment.^[8]
8. (Medieval Latin, law) Withdrawal from a suit.^[8]
9. (Medieval Latin) The ebb of the tide.^[8]

Related words

• English retraction

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ 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
8. ^ 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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de