On the Latin Language

L 1. In what way names were applied to things in Latin, I have undertaken to expound, in six books. Of these, I have already composed three before this one, and have addressed them to Septumius; in them I treat of the branch of learning which is called Etymology-. The considerations which might be raised against it, I have put in the first book; those adduced in its favour, in the second; those merely describing it, in the third. In the following books, addressed to you, I shall discuss the problem from what things names were applied in Latin, both those which are habitual \vith the ordinary folk, and those which are found in the poets.

2. Inasmuch as each and every word has two innate features, from what thing and to what thing the name is applied (therefore, when the question is raised from what thing pertinacia ‘ obstinacy ‘ is, it is shown to be from pertendere ‘ to persist ‘ : to what thing it is applied, is told when it is explained that it is pertinacia ‘ obstinacy ‘ in a matter in which there ought not to be persistence but there is, because it is perseverantia ‘ steadfastness ‘ if a person persists in that in which he ought to hold firm), that former part, where they examine why and whence words are, the Greeks call Etymology, that other part they call Semantics. Of these two matters I shall speak in the following books, not keeping them apart, but gi\ing less attention to the second.