English
abacinate
Abacinate comes from Late Latin abacinātus ‘blind, having been made blind’.
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEabacinātus1‘blind, having been made blind’
- Englishearliest quotation 1905abacinate1
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
- 1 Wiktionary, English abacinate
- Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1905, James M. Ludlow, Sir Raoul: “You young scapegrace," said Dandolo, "I will myself abacinate…”.
Earlier history uncertain. See Wiktionary.
Lineage
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEabacinātusWiktionary, English abacinate‘blind, having been made blind’
- Englishearliest quotation 1905abacinateWiktionary, English abacinate. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1905, James M. Ludlow, Sir Raoul: “You young scapegrace," said Dandolo, "I will myself abacinate…”
The story
From Late Latin abacinātus, perfect passive participle of abacinō; possibly formed from ab (‘off’) + bacīnum (‘a basin’) or bacīnus.
Linked words
through Late Latin ab ‘off’
Today it means
verb To blind by holding a red-hot metal rod or plate before the eyes
Sources
Sources: Wiktionary, “abacinate”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.
Etymograph / Late Latin abacinātus / abacinate