vacatio

Pronunciation

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

Forms

vacātiō f (genitive vacātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from vacō “to be empty, free” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3] Inscriptions have ⟨vocātiō⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of exemption and of exemption from military service.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant exemption from a duty or liability, immunity, as Cicero's vacātiōnem sūmptūs, labōris, mīlitiae “exemption from expense, labour and service”, and especially from military service.^[2][5] In Tacitus it was a payment by a soldier to his centurion to be excused duties, and in Cicero an excuse.^[2] In Seneca it meant freedom from anything harmful, and in Livy respite from work, a holiday.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant exemption, suspension, vacancy, vacation.^[6] Medieval Latin used it of idleness, school holidays and the vacancy of an office.^[7] English vacation came in the late 14th century, first meaning freedom from obligations, leisure.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of exemption.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a holiday.^[2][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a soldier's payment.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English vacation is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Exemption, immunity; exemption from military service.^[2]
2. A payment for exemption from duties.^[2]
3. An excuse.^[2]
4. Freedom from harm.^[2]
5. Respite, a holiday, vacation.^[2]
6. (Medieval Latin) The vacancy of an office.^[7]

Related words

• vacō
• vacuus
• English vacation

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com