constitutio Latin · revision 7935

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Rhetorica ad Herennium|origins=la statuō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kõː.stɪˈtuː.ti.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.stiˈtut.t͡si.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cōnstitūtiō''' ''f'' (genitive cōnstitūtiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[cōnstituō]] “to set up, establish” with the suffix [[-tiō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)^(Etymonline) Isidore defines a ⟨cōnstitūtiō⟩ or edict as what a king or emperor decrees.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL dates it from the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' and Cicero, and notes that the poets lack it.^(TLL) Köbler dates the ''Rhetorica'' 86/82 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In rhetoric, from the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'', it meant the formulation of the point at issue, and in Cicero the definition of a term.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero it meant the constitution, disposition of the body, ''fīrma corporis cōnstitūtiō'', the organization of affairs, the permanent system of a state, a set of principles, the state of affairs, and a decision.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Vitruvius it meant physical arrangement, structure.^(OLD 2012) From Livy it meant a decree, especially an imperial one, and in Quintilian convention as a source of law.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a constitution, establishment, foundation, structure, order, and a conciliar document.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for creation and construction.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''costituzione'' and French ''constitution'', and Old French gave [[en|constitution]] in the mid-14th century, “law, regulation, edict”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 86/82 BC – The ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' uses it of the point at issue.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of bodily constitution and of a state's system.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a decree.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''constitution'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Arrangement, structure; organization.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The system of a state, [[m|en|constitution]]; principles.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The state of affairs.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A decision; a decree, enactment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(rhetoric)'' The point at issue; a definition.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōnstitūtiōnārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cōnstituō]]

+ * [[cōnstitūtor]]

+ * [[cōnstitūtōrius]]

+ * [[cōnstitūtum]]

+ * [[cōnstitūtus]]

+ * [[statuō]]

+ * [[en|constitution]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}