Etymologically

transmissio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [trãːsˈmɪs.si.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tranzˈmis.si.o][1]

Forms

trānsmissiō f (genitive trānsmissiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from trānsmittō “to send across” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero uses it of the crossing to Greece.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a journey to the other side, a sea crossing, a passage, as in Cicero's letters and Philippics.[2][6] Gaffiot adds a sending, dispatch.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a sending, forwarding.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for despatch, and figuratively a message.[8] It gave English transmission in the 1610s, “conveyance from one place to another”.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[4][5]
  • 1610s – English transmission is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A crossing, passage.[2]
  2. A sending, transmission.[6][7]

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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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