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reunio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word reunio

reunio1 reunite

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1st third of the 14th century
Ultimate origin
Latin ūniō
Etymology tree of reunio1
inherited borrowed derived
Latin unio
French réunion
German Union
Italian unire
Latin reunio

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [reˈuː.ni.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [reˈuː.ni.o][1]

Forms

reūniō (present infinitive reūnīre, perfect active reūnīvī, supine reūnītum); fourth conjugation[1]

Etymology

The verb is from Latin re- + ūniō (“to unite”), formed in Medieval Latin;[2][3] Wiktionary allows a borrowing from French réunir instead.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source dates from the first third of the 14th century.[3] A privilege of Otto, Archbishop of Magdeburg, of 1332, quoted by Du Cange, uses it of joining an office back to his court: officialatui nostre curie reunimus, “we reunite it to the officialate of our court”.[4]

Semantic evolution

In natural philosophy it is used of the parts of a medium that join again after a heavy body has passed through them, and in a treaty of 1473 of bringing about a truce.[2]

Timeline

  • 1st third of the 14th century – Köbler's first record.[3]
  • 1332 – A privilege of the Archbishop of Magdeburg uses it of reuniting an office to his court.[4]
  • 1473 – A treaty uses it of concluding a truce.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To reunite, join together again.[2][4][1]
  2. To bring about a truce or settlement.[2]

reunio2 reunion

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
before 1350
Ultimate origin
Latin ūniō

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [reˈuː.ni.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [reˈuː.ni.o][1]

Forms

reūniō f (genitive reūniōnis); third declension[3]

Etymology

The noun is from Latin reūniō1 (“to reunite”), with the suffix -iō.[2] Köbler refers it to re- and the noun ūniō (“union”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it before 1350, after Latham's dictionary.[3] In Orford's Sciendum it is the joining again of the air in violent motion, and Bradwardine mentions writings on the division of the philosophers' stone into the four elements and on their preparation and reunio.[2]

Timeline

  • before 1350 – Köbler's first date, after Latham.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A reunion, the act of uniting again.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ 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

Derived terms

Cite this entry

“Reunio.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/reunio. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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