Etymologically
Log in

transactio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:04. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [trãːˈsaːk.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tranˈsak.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

trānsāctiō f (genitive trānsāctiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from trānsigō “to carry through, settle” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Tertullian, whom he dates c. 160–220 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a negotiated settlement, a business arrangement, a deal, as in the Digest.[2][5] Tertullian uses it for completion, the end of the world, and Ennodius of the end of life.[6][5] Lewis & Short call it post-classical.[6]

British Medieval Latin used it for an agreement, settlement, compromise, especially a legal one, and the document recording it.[7] It gave English transaction in the mid-15th century, in civil law “the adjustment of a dispute by mutual concession”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it.[4][6]
  • 533 AD – The Digest uses it of a settlement.[5][4]
  • mid-15th century – English transaction is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A settlement, agreement, transaction.[2]
  2. (Late Latin) Completion, end.[6]

Word family

  • trānsāctiōnālis

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ 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