dictio Latin · revision 8088
16 Oct 2026, 15:23 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Pacuvius|origins=la dīcō}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdɪk.ti.oː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdik.t͡si.o]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''dictiō''' ''f'' (genitive dictiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[dīcō]] “to say” with the suffix [[-tiō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Pacuvius, of speaking and of an oracle's utterance.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Terence; he dates Pacuvius 220–130 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant the act of speaking, as in Pacuvius, and in Terence of saying, with ''dictiō causae'' the pleading of a case.^(OLD 2012) In Pacuvius it also meant an oracular utterance, in Cicero a speech, declamation, and in Quintilian a word, expression.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ Medieval Latin used it for a rhetorical composition, style, recitation and doctrine.^(Niermeyer 1976) Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for language.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for an utterance, the uttering of the Word, a logical statement and a medical aphorism.^(DMLBS) It was borrowed into Italian ''dizione'' and French ''diction'', and Late Latin ''dictiō'' gave [[en|diction]] in the 1540s, first meaning “a word”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of speaking.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses ''dictiō causae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a word.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 1540s – English ''diction'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Speaking; saying, ''dictiō causae'', pleading.^(OLD 2012)
+ # An oracular utterance.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(rhetoric)'' A speech, [[m|en|declamation]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(grammar)'' A word, expression.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Style; recitation.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[dictiuncula]]
+ * [[iūrisdictiō]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[dīcō]]
+ * [[en|diction]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}