commentum Latin · revision 7784
16 Oct 2026, 14:34 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la comminīscor}}
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''commentum''' ''n'' (genitive commentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is the neuter of [[commentus]], the past participle of [[comminīscor]] “to devise, invent”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a scheme.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a scheme, device, as in Plautus, in Pliny the Elder an invention, and an intention.^(OLD 2012) From Terence it meant a fabrication, fiction, as his ''ipsīs commentum placet'' “they are pleased with their invention”, and Cicero's ''opīniōnum commenta'' “fictions of opinion”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Quintilian it apparently meant an argument.^(OLD 2012) In Late Latin it meant a comment, interpretation.^(Etymonline)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a fiction, falsehood, invention.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a commentary.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian ''commento'', and Old French ''coment'' or Late Latin ''commentum'' gave [[en|comment]] in the late 14th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a scheme.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a fabrication.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of fictions of opinion.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''comment'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A scheme, device; an invention; a design.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A fabrication, [[m|en|fiction]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # An argument.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A [[m|en|comment]]; a commentary.^(Etymonline)^(Niermeyer 1976)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[commentārius]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[comminīscor]]
+ * [[en|comment]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}