Etymologically
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textura

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tɛkˈstuː.ra][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [tekˈstuː.ra][1]

Forms

textūra f (genitive textūrae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin texō (“to weave”) + -tūra.[2][1] De Vaan traces the verb to Proto-Italic *tekse/o- and Proto-Indo-European *teḱ-s- (“to fashion”), cognate with Sanskrit तक्षति (tákṣati, “to hammer, form, fashion”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short, Georges and Conte cite Plautus for a spider's web;[4][5][6] de Vaan and Köbler date it from Lucretius.[3][7]

Semantic evolution

It is the art or process of weaving, as in Propertius' “Coan weaving of Minerva”,[2][6] and a web, as of spiders in Seneca.[4][5] From this came a framework or structure: Lucan uses it of the frame of the ribs,[2] and Lucretius uses it of the fine atomic structure of the mind, quam tenuī cōnstet textūrā, “of how fine a texture it is made”.[2][4] The Vulgate uses it of woven work in Exodus, and Prudentius of a construction.[5] In Medieval Latin it was also the plaiting of a crown and the putting together of words, a composition;[8] Alcuin applies it to a written work.[8] English took texture in the early 15th century in the sense “network, structure”, first in anatomy.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a spider's web.[4][5][7]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the structure of the mind.[2][7]
  • 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of weaving.[2][7]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a web.[4][7]
  • 799 – Alcuin uses it of a literary composition.[8]
  • early 15th century – Borrowed into English as texture.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The art or process of weaving; a way of weaving.[2][6]
  2. A web.[4][5]
  3. A framework, structure.[2][5]
  4. (philosophy) The atomic make-up of a thing, its texture.[2][6]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A putting together of words, a composition.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b c d 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
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com