Etymologically
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sancio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsaŋ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsan̠ʲ.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

sanciō (present infinitive sancīre, perfect active sānxī, supine sānctum); fourth conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sankiō, from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂k- (“to sanctify, make a treaty”).[1] The OLD compares sacer “sacred”, and Gaffiot also the god's name Sancus.[2][3] Old forms include a perfect ⟨sancīvērunt⟩ in Fronto and a participle ⟨sancītus⟩ in Lucretius.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of confirming a practice.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

Gaffiot defines its basic sense as making inviolable by a religious act.[3] From Cicero it meant to ratify solemnly, confirm laws or agreements, to confirm someone in a status, to enact a law, and to ordain by law.[2] It meant to sanction a practice, to fulfil a prophecy, and with an ablative of the penalty to make an offence punishable, as Cicero's laws.[2] It also meant to consecrate, dedicate.[2] Döderlein explains that sacer is what belongs to the gods, while sānctus, its participle, is what is under their protection and so inviolable.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to make sacred, appoint, ordain, sanction, ratify.[6] Its noun sānctiō “decree” gave English sanction in the 1560s, and its participle sānctus is the source of English saint.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of confirming a practice.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius has the participle sancītus.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of ratifying and enacting laws.[2][4]
  • 1560s – English sanction is recorded, from sānctiō.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To ratify solemnly, confirm; to confirm in a status.[2]
  2. To enact a law; to ordain by law.[2]
  3. To sanction a practice; to fulfil a prophecy.[2]
  4. To make punishable by law.[2]
  5. To consecrate, dedicate.[2]

Word family

  • insanctus
  • persanctus
  • sānctēscō
  • sānctificō
  • sanctificus
  • sānctiloquus
  • sānctimōnia
  • sānctiō
  • sānctitās
  • sānctitūdō
  • sānctor
  • sānctuārium

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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com