traditio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [traːˈdɪ.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [traˈdit.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

trāditiō f (genitive trāditiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from trādō “to hand over, surrender” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of handing over.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC and Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a handing over, delivery of goods, as in Cicero's Topica, and the surrender of persons or territory, as Livy's surrender of Gomphi, and Lewis and Short say it is not frequent until after Augustus.^[2][3][5] From Quintilian it meant the transmission of knowledge, teaching, and in Tacitus the handing down of knowledge, a tradition or traditional belief.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant tradition, transmission, handing over, and in theology the ancient testimony about doctrine and Christian institutions handed down in the early Church.^[6] In Medieval Latin it meant a deed of gift, the things donated, and an explanation or commentary.^[7] Through Old French traïson “betrayal” it gave English treason about 1200, and as a learned word English tradition in the late 14th century.^[8]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of handing over.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the surrender of towns.^[3][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of tradition.^[2][4]
• c. 1200 – English treason is recorded, through Old French.^[8]
• late 14th century – English tradition is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A handing over, delivery; a surrender.^[2]
2. Teaching, transmission of knowledge.^[2]
3. A tradition, traditional belief.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) A deed of gift; a commentary.^[7]

Word family

• trāditiōnālis

Related words

• trāditor
• trādō
• English tradition
• English treason

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 c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com