Etymologically
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statio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsta.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

statiō f (genitive statiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin stō (“to stand”) + -tiō.[2][1] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *sta-ē-je/o- (“to stand”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sth₂-eh₁-ie/o- (“to stand”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Lucretius,[3] who uses it of a ship that stays where it is.[4] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was first the state of standing still, and in astronomy the apparent halt of a planet.[2] From this it was a halting place, an anchorage for ships, and above all a military post or picket, guard duty and the men who kept it.[2] Döderlein distinguishes statiōnēs, guards posted at a gate, from excubiae, sentinels before a palace, and vigiliae, the night patrols.[6] Figuratively it was one's station or duty in life, and in the Empire an office for business.[2]

Isidore says that the Christian statiō, a fast day, took its name from the soldiers' post.[7] In medieval Latin it meant a lodging, a siege, castle guard owed by a vassal, a house and a storey.[8] It gave French étage (“floor”) and Italian stagione (“season”), and was borrowed as Italian stazione and English station.[1][5]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of standing still.[4][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of cavalry pickets.[2][5]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid speaks of his public station being closed to him.[2][5]
  • Middle Ages – It is used of castle guard and of a storey.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A standing still, (astronomy) the halt of a planet.[2]
  2. A halting place; an anchorage.[2]
  3. (military) A post, picket; guard duty; a guard.[2]
  4. A station or position in life, duty.[2]
  5. An office for business.[2]
  6. (Medieval Latin) A lodging; castle guard; a storey.[8]

Word family

  • statiōnālis
  • statiōnārius

Usage notes

Isidore explains the Christian statiō, a day of fasting, by comparison with soldiers who keep their post whatever happens.[7]

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  8. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill