specifico

Forms

specificō (present infinitive specificāre, supine specificātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin specificus (“constituting a species, specific”), a Late Latin verb.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Conte's only ancient source is Boethius' commentary on Porphyry, where it is used in the passive of what is specified or classed under a species.^[1]

Semantic evolution

In medieval philosophy it meant to make something a species, to set it apart as a distinct kind or individual: Alcuin says that the soul specifies the forms of all things that it takes into itself, and Thomas Aquinas speaks of what a thing is specified and individuated by, and of acts being specified by their objects.^[2][4] Grammarians used it of qualifying a word, making its meaning more specific.^[2] Neckam uses it of clarifying beer, beside straining and purifying.^[2]

From the 12th century it is common in charters and letters for stating something explicitly or in detail: a Westminster charter of 1158 speaks of liberties fully contained and specified in a charter, and John of Salisbury writes in a letter of 1168 of whatever might be specified against conscience.^[2] Niermeyer gives it as “to specify, itemize, set out in detail”.^[5] English specify came in the early 14th century from Old French specifier and directly from this verb.^[3]

Timeline

• Late Latin – Boethius uses the passive in his commentary on Porphyry.^[1][2]
• 2nd half of the 8th century – Alcuin uses it of the soul distinguishing the forms of things.^[2][6]
• 1158 – A Westminster charter uses it of liberties specified in a charter.^[2]
• 1168 – John of Salisbury uses it in a letter.^[2]
• early 14th century – English specify is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Late Latin, philosophy) To make into a species; to distinguish as a distinct kind or individual;^[1][4][2] (passive) to be classed under a species.^[1][4][2]
2. (Medieval Latin, grammar) To qualify, make (a word) more specific.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) To make clear or pure, clarify.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) To specify, state explicitly, itemize.^[5][2][3]

Word family

• specificātiō
• specificātīvus

Related words

• English specify

References

1. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de