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suggestio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word suggestio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Quintilian
Ultimate origin
Latin (gerō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊɡˈɡɛs.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sudˈd͡ʒɛs.ti.o][1]

Forms

suggestiō f (genitive suggestiōnis); third declension[1] It is also spelled subgestiō.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from suggerō “to supply, prompt” with the suffix -tiō.[4][1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Quintilian, whom he dates c. 35–95/96 AD.[6]

Semantic evolution

In rhetoric it was the figure of supplying an answer to one's own question.[4][3] Caelius Aurelianus uses it for an adding to, an addition.[2][3]

In Medieval Latin it meant a hint, advice, and a petition, memorial.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for suggestion, recommendation, incitement.[8] Through Anglo-French and Old French suggestioun it gave English suggestion in the mid-14th century, first “a prompting to evil”.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it.[6][4]
  • 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it of an addition.[2]
  • mid-14th century – English suggestion is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (rhetoric) The supplying of an answer to one's own question.[4]
  2. An addition.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A suggestion, advice; a petition.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon 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 d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Suggestio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/suggestio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·