pactum Latin · revision 30766

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *peh₂ḱ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈpak.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈpak.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pactum''' ''n'' (genitive pactī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of the participle of [[m|la|pacīscor|t=to make an agreement]] used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) De Vaan lists it, with the old verb ⟨pacere⟩ and [[m|la|pāx|t=peace]], under [[itc-pro|*pāk-|t=agreement]] and [[ine-pro|*peh₂ḱ-|t=agreement]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The TLL treats it with [[m|la|pangō|t=to fix]].^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler record it in the Twelve Tables.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Plautus already has the adverbial use: ''sī nōn fēcerō eī male aliquō pactō'', “if I don't do him harm somehow”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Pactum'' is an agreement or compact, Cicero defines it as what has been agreed between people (''pactum est quod inter aliquōs convenit'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In adverbial phrases it means “way, manner”: ''aliquō pactō'' “somehow”, ''nūllō pactō'' “by no means”, ''hōc pactō'' “in this way”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was also a treaty document, a barbarian national law code, a royal decree, and a tribute or levy.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|pact]] (early 15th century) comes from it, partly through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – In the Twelve Tables.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''aliquō pactō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero defines ''pactum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English [[m|en|pact]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|agreement]], [[m|en|compact]], bargain.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(in adverbial phrases)'' Way, manner, means: ''aliquō pactō'', somehow.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A treaty document; a law code; a royal decree; a tribute.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[compectum]]

+ * [[pactīcius]]

+ * [[pactiō]]

+ * [[pacīscor]]

+ * [[pāx]]

+ * [[en|pact]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}