Etymologically
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rotatio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:04. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɔˈtaː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [roˈtat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

rotātiō f (genitive rotātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from rotō “to turn round” with the suffix -tiō, from rota “wheel”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Vitruvius, whom he dates c. 84–c. 25 BC, and Vitruvius uses it of the turning of a compass.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant movement round an axis, rotation, a wheeling in a circle.[2][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant breaking on the wheel.[6] It gave English rotation in the 1550s, “act of rotating”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it.[4][5]
  • 1550s – English rotation is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A turning, rotation.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Breaking on the wheel.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill