subterfugium

Forms

subterfugium n (genitive subterfugiī or subterfugī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin subterfugiō + -ium,^[1] from the verb meaning “to escape by stealth, evade”.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Facundus of Hermiane uses it in his defence of the Three Chapters, of the evasions of the Nestorians.^[3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

It is a Late Latin word for an evasion or subterfuge.^[1][6] Medieval writers used it for an evasion or shift,^[7] also for a means of escape, an escape route or a hiding place, and in a set formula of English writs.^[6] John of Salisbury uses it in a letter of 1166.^[6] In Neo-Latin Bessarion writes of removing all suspicion of evasion.^[8]

English borrowed it as subterfuge in the 1570s, from French or directly from the medieval Latin word.^[2]

Timeline

• mid-6th century AD – Facundus uses it of the Nestorians' evasions.^[3][5]
• 1166 – John of Salisbury uses it in a letter.^[6]
• 1570s – English borrows it as subterfuge, from French or directly from Latin.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. An evasion, subterfuge, shift.^[3][7][6]
2. (Medieval Latin) A means of escape; an escape route or hiding place, a refuge.^[6]

Related words

• English subterfuge

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d e f 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
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de