sanctio

Forms

sānctiō f (genitive sānctiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin sanciō + -tiō.^[2][1] De Vaan traces sanciō (“to make sacred, ratify”) back to Proto-Italic *sa-n-k-je- (“to sanctify, solemnly dedicate”) and Proto-Indo-European *sh₂-n-k- (“to make sacred, sanctify”), from the same root as sacer.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Rhetorica ad Herennium already says that a sanction outweighs a permission,^[4] and Cicero uses it of the penal clause of a law.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a binding law or clause, an ordinance, and in particular the penal clause that protected a law against breach or repeal.^[2] Cicero explains that some sanctions were made sacred by a penalty, the offender's head being consecrated to the gods,^[4] and Papinian defines the sanction of laws as the part that sets a fixed penalty for those who disobey them.^[2][4] The Code of Justinian has prāgmatica sānctiō, a pragmatic sanction.^[4]

Church Latin used it for a rule, restriction or penalty,^[5] and medieval Latin for a decision or decree, the completion of a legal act,^[6] and the binding force of divine or church law.^[7] English took sanction in the 1560s, first meaning a law or decree.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the penal clause of a law.^[4][2][9]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy writes of sanctions left void.^[4][9]
• before 212 AD – Papinian defines it as the part of a law that sets a penalty.^[2][4][9]
• 1560s – English borrows it as sanction.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A binding law or clause, an ordinance, a decree.^[2][4]
2. A penal clause that protects a law against breach or repeal; a penalty.^[2][4]
3. prāgmatica sānctiō: an imperial decree, a pragmatic sanction.^[4]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A rule, restriction or penalty.^[5]
5. (Medieval Latin) A decision, enactment; the completion of a legal act.^[6]

Related words

• English sanction

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de