Article published In:
Historiographia LinguisticaVol. 16:3 (1989) ► pp.225–233
CONSIGNIFICARE and ΠPOƩƩHMAINEIN
Re-evaluation of a Grammatical term
Consignificare is used in Modistic writings to express both the concept of signifying only in context and that of signifying in addition to another element. This fusion of meanings, distinct and unassociated in the corresponding Greek terms of συσσημαίνειν and ποσσημαίνειν, had come about already in the sixth century, when – as is evident from Boethius’ commentaries on Aristotle – πϱοσσημαίνειν was radically reinterpreted: while it originally meant “to mark with” or “to indicate”, this compound came to be understood as “to indicate additionally”, having been used exclusively in conjunction with accidental properties. However, a literal translation of πϱοσσημαίνειν, reflecting exactly Aristotle’s purport of the term, is extant in Varronian adsignificare.
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