Etymologically
Log in

seditiose

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 13:57. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

sēditiōsē (comparative sēditiōsius, superlative sēditiōsissimē)[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin sēditiōsus (“seditious, factious”) + -ē.[1][3] The adjective, found from Varro on, is formed from sēditiō (“violent discord, rebellion”),[1][4][5] which de Vaan lists among the derivatives of eō1 (“to go”), from Proto-Indo-European *h1ei- (“to go”).[5] Its prefix is sē- (“apart”), from the old ablative of the reflexive pronoun, ⟨*sēd⟩, which de Vaan explains as first meaning “for itself” and then “away, without”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero,[6] who uses it in the speeches for Cluentius and for Milo.[7]

Semantic evolution

It means seditiously, mutinously, in a factious way.[1][8] Cicero has the superlative in a letter to Atticus, of speaking in the most provocative way possible, and Tacitus has the comparative.[7][2]

British medieval Latin uses it for discordantly or factiously, of acts done in the course of a violent quarrel or feud, and for treacherously.[9]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it, also in the superlative.[7][2][6]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus has the comparative seditiosius.[7][6]
  • 1285 – A British record uses it of a man who allied himself with Llywelyn, the late prince of Wales and enemy of the king.[9]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Seditiously, mutinously, factiously.[1][8][9]
  2. (Medieval Latin) In the course of a violent quarrel or feud.[9]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Treacherously.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  5. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  9. ^ a b c d e 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