contractus Latin · revision 7296
16 Oct 2026, 13:36 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
Initial text
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=la trahō}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtrak.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtrak.tus]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''contractus''' ''m'' (genitive contractūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[contrahō]] “to draw together, contract” with the suffix of action nouns [[-tus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of the shrinking of grapes.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a drawing together, shrinking, narrowing, as Varro's ''acinōrum contractus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Gellius and Quintilian it meant the undertaking of a business, and then a legal or commercial agreement, a contract.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a bargain, contract, agreement.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it of a contract and an acquisition.^(Niermeyer 1976) Through Old French ''contract'' it gave [[en|contract]] in the early 14th century, first of marriage agreements.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of shrinking.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a contract.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of undertaking business.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * early 14th century – English ''contract'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A shrinking, narrowing.^(OLD 2012)
+ # The undertaking of a transaction.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A [[m|en|contract]], agreement.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[contrahō]]
+ * [[trahō]]
+ * [[en|contract]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ ''Contractus, -a, -um'', the participle of ''contrahō'', is used as an adjective meaning narrow, short, restricted, sparing, and of style terse, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}