socio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɔ.ki.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɔː.t͡ʃi.o]^[1]

Forms

sociō (present infinitive sociāre, perfect active sociāvī, supine sociātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from socius “companion, ally” with the verbal suffix -ō.^[2][1][3] Socius goes back to the root Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”).^[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Cicero, of uniting persons in partnership.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to attach a person to another as partner or associate, to unite in partnership, in marriage, as in Virgil, in an alliance, as in Livy, or by kinship.^[2] It also meant to make one's plans or resources common with another's, to share goods, as Cicero's sharing of a throne, and to combine or unite things, as in Horace.^[2][3] Lewis and Short note that Cicero mostly uses it of things.^[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to share in, unite, join.^[7] English associate comes from its compound associāre in the mid-15th century, and English association in the 1530s.^[4]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of partnership and of sharing a throne.^[2][3][5]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of marriage.^[2][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of alliances.^[2][5]
• mid-15th century – English associate is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To unite as partners, associate.^[2]
2. To unite in marriage, alliance or kinship.^[2]
3. To make common (plans, resources).^[2]
4. To share (goods).^[2]
5. To combine, unite (things).^[2]

Word family

• associō
• dissociō

Related words

• socius
• English associate
• English association

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson