coniectura Latin · revision 31247

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=ine-pro *(H)yeh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɔn.jɛkˈtuː.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [kon.jekˈtuː.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''coniectūra''' ''f'' (genitive coniectūrae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Suetonius has the spelling ''coiectūra''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|cōniciō|t=to throw together; to infer]], or its participle ⟨coniectus⟩, with the suffix [[m|la|-ūra]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The verb is [[m|la|con-]] and [[m|la|iaciō|t=to throw]], which de Vaan derives from [[itc-pro|*jak-i-|t=to throw]] and [[ine-pro|*(H)yeh₁-|t=to throw, let go]], cognate with [[grc|ἵημι|tr=híēmi|t=to send, throw]].^(de Vaan 2008) The rhetorician Sulpicius Victor explained that it is so called because by conjecturing and arguing one must arrive at the truth.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ennius has it of the interpretation of dreams, begged of Apollo to learn where such great dream-oracles tend,^(OLD 2012) and Plautus has “if we can find it by inference”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the inferring of one fact from another, reasoning, especially ''coniectūram facere'', and the power of inference, as Cicero's “if the silent figure of a body offers any clue”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) With the stress on lack of certainty it is guesswork or conjecture, as in Pacuvius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also the interpretation of dreams and omens, divining, and a prophecy or forecast, as in Cicero's ''De divinatione''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it is a heap or a great number, and a levy on a district's inhabitants for the upkeep of the king or his agents on their travels.^(Niermeyer 1976) Church Latin glosses it “guess, conjecture”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|conjecture]] came from it, through Old French or directly, in the late 14th century, first of interpreting signs and dreams.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of interpreting dreams.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of inference.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of guesswork.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of prophecy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''conjecture''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Inference, reasoning;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''coniectūram facere'', to infer.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|guesswork|alt=Guesswork]], [[m|en|conjecture]], guess.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Interpretation (of dreams, omens), divining; a prophecy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A heap; a great number; a levy for the maintenance of the king or royal agents.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[coniectūrālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cōniciō]]

+ * [[coniectiō]]

+ * [[coniectō]]

+ * [[coniector]]

+ * [[cōniectus]]

+ * [[iaciō]]

+ * [[en|conjecture]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}