Etymology and origin of the Romanian word aplecăciune
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1799 Iorgovici More words from the 18th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin applicō
Etymology tree
From the same root
Forms
aplecăciune f (plural aplecăciuni)[1]
Etymology
It is formed from Romanian apleca + -ciune.[2][3][1][4] The DA thought it a coinage of Țichindeal that never entered the common language.[3] Wiktionary compares Latin applicātiō and calls it a doublet of aplicație.[1] The verb apleca is from Latin applicō.[5]
Earliest recorded meaning
DELR dates the first record to 1799, in Iorgovici, with the sense “inclination, disposition; bow”.[5] The DA's quotations are from Țichindeal: people „au de tot feliul de aplecăciuni” “have all kinds of inclinations”.[3]
Semantic evolution
Both senses follow those of the verb: an inclination of the mind and a bodily bow, the same as plecăciune; Țichindeal has „cu mare aplecăciune” “with a deep bow”.[3][2] The word fell out of use and is now marked archaic.[2][4]
Timeline
Meanings
Noun
- (archaic) inclination, natural disposition, liking for something; the same as aplecare.[2][3][6]
- (archaic) A bow, prostration.[2][3]
Related words
- plecăciune
- aplicație
References
- ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2010), Micul dicționar academic, 2nd ed., 4 vols., București: Univers Enciclopedic Gold, p. 1, 80
- ^ a b c d e f Academia Română (1913–1949), Dicționarul limbii române (DA), ed. Sextil Pușcariu, tom I (A–B, C, D–De) and tom II (F–I, J–Lojniță), București: Socec / Universul / Monitorul Oficial și Imprimeriile Statului; page scans at cflr-scans.solirom.ro, p. s.v. aplecăciune
- ^ a b Academia Republicii Populare Romîne (1958), Dicționarul limbii romîne moderne, București: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne, p. 35
- ^ a b c Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2011–), Dicționarul etimologic al limbii române (DELR), vol. I: A–B (2011), vol. II: C (2015–2018), București: Editura Academiei Române; continued online at delr.lingv.ro, p. s.v. apleca
- ^ a b Candrea, I.-A.; Adamescu, Gh. (1926–1931), Dicționarul enciclopedic ilustrat „Cartea Românească”, București: Cartea Românească, p. s.v. aplecăciune
Related etymologies
Cite this entry
“Aplecăciune.” Etymologically, 11 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/ro/aplec%C4%83ciune. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.
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