Etymologically
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vacatio

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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]

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