versio

Forms

versiō f (genitive versiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vertō (“to turn”) + -tiō, an action noun formed in Medieval Latin;^[1][2][3] Niermeyer derives it from versō as well as from the simple verb.^[4] Wiktionary compares the Classical versūra (“a turning”) and versus¹ (“furrow, line”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the chronicle of Andreas of Bergamo, written after 877, for wine that turned cloudy as soon as it was put in its vessels.^[3][5][4]

Semantic evolution

Besides the turning of wine, Niermeyer records it for an inheritance or portion.^[4][3] It meant a turn or bend,^[3] and British writers used it for the act of turning, a whirling motion and the turns of horses in exercises.^[2] Old High German glosses render it with kera.^[3]

Later it meant a version or translation,^[6][1] the sense in which English took version through French in the 1580s.^[7]

Timeline

• after 877 – Andreas of Bergamo uses it of wine turning bad.^[3][5]
• first half of the 14th century – Ockham uses it for the act of turning.^[2][3]
• 1580s – English borrows it, through French, as version.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A turning, turn, bend; a whirling motion.^[2][3]
2. (Medieval Latin) Of wine: the turning bad, deterioration.^[4][5]
3. (Medieval Latin) An inheritance, a portion.^[4][3]
4. A version, translation.^[6][1]

Related words

• versūra
• English version

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e 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 Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com