contagio Latin · revision 4095

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cato the Elder|origins=la tangō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtaː.ɡi.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtaː.d͡ʒi.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contāgiō''' ''f'' (genitive contāgiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is related to [[tango|alt=tangō]] “to touch” and [[contingo|alt=contingō]], with the suffix [[-io|alt=-iō]].^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) The OLD analyses it as the stem of [[contages|alt=contāgēs]] with ''-iō''.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary says the origin of the long /aː/ is unknown.^(Wiktionary) Beside it there are [[contagium|alt=contāgium]], used in poetry and post-Augustan prose, and the Late Latin [[contamen|alt=contāmen]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato the Elder uses it in a prayer formula in his work on agriculture.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler names Ennius as its first source and dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a touching or contact, especially one that affects what is touched, as Cicero's soul warmed by contact with the lungs and the mind withdrawn in sleep from contact with the body.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Cicero also uses it, translating Greek ''sympatheia'', of a sympathetic influence linking natural events.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Very often it was contact with something physically or morally unclean, infection, as in Ennius' line “do not come near me, lest my contagion harm good men”, of sheep infected in Columella, and in Livy of madness spreading like a plague.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it meant a corrupting influence or companionship.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) Medieval Latin used it of contagion, plague, defects and defilement.^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010) English ''contagion'' came from Old French and Latin in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato the Elder uses it of contact.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a man's contagion.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of contact and of natural sympathy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of infected sheep.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''contagion'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Touch, contact, ''(figurative)'' association, influence.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|contagion]], [[m|en|infection]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A corrupting influence.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A sympathetic influence linking natural events.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|plague]]; defilement.^(MLW)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contactus]]

+ * [[en|contagion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}