verbatim

Forms

verbātim (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin verbum (“word”) + -ātim.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In British medieval Latin it appears in Ælfric Bata, where the reader is told to read distinctly and clearly, verbatim beside syllabatim and sensatim.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Georges records it in the sense “literally, word for word”, referring to a study by Funck.^[3] Niermeyer gives it the medieval sense “by means of words”.^[4] Du Cange glosses it with French “mot à mot”, exactly as the words run.^[5] English took it over in the late 15th century from Medieval Latin.^[6]

Timeline

• 1476 – A document quoted by Du Cange binds consuls and councillors to keep the provisions written above verbatim.^[5]
• late 15th century – English borrows it as verbatim.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. word for word, literally.^[3][2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) By means of words.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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
3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com