taxo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈtak.soː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtak.so]^[1]

Forms

taxō (present infinitive taxāre, perfect active taxāvī, supine taxātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin tangō (“to touch”) + -tō, a frequentative.^[2][3][4][5] Gellius explains that it means to touch more firmly and more often than tangere.^[2][3] Wiktionary suggests it continues an s-present of the root Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- (“to touch”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Seneca, in his Letters, tells Lucilius to measure the evil and rate his fear.^[2] Köbler dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD.^[6]

Semantic evolution

Its literal sense, to touch sharply or handle, is rare and known mainly from Gellius and Macrobius.^[3][7] Figuratively it meant to censure or criticize, as Suetonius and Pliny the Elder use it, and to assess or value: Seneca tells Lucilius to measure the evil and rate his fear.^[2][7] It also meant to assess a sum, in the land-surveyors.^[2] The adverb dumtaxat “only, at least” contains it.^[2]

In medieval Latin it meant to tax, impose a tax.^[1] Its descendants include Italian tassare and Old French taxer.^[1] English tax is recorded around 1300, and English task in the early 14th century, from a Vulgar Latin metathesis of Medieval Latin taxa.^[5]

Timeline

• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of rating one's fear.^[2][6]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of censure.^[2][6]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius explains its relation to tangō.^[2][6]
• c. 1300 – English tax is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To touch sharply, handle.^[3][1]
2. To censure, reproach, criticize.^[2][1]
3. To assess, value, rate.^[2][1]
4. To reckon, estimate a sum.^[2][1]
5. (Medieval Latin) To tax.^[1]

Word family

• retaxō
• taxātiō
• taxātor
• taxim
• dumtaxat

Related words

• tangō
• English tax
• English task

Usage notes

A different, Late Latin word is taxō, taxōnis “badger”, from Frankish *þahs, recorded from Polemius Silvius, the source of Spanish tejón.^[1][6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.