derivatio

εἰ μὴ ἦλθον καὶ ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἶχον → if I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

dērīvātĭo: ōnis, f. derivo,
I a leading off, turning off, turning away.
I Lit.: derivationes fluminum, * Cic. Off. 2, 4, 14: sollemnis (sc. lacus Albani), Liv. 5, 15 (cf. shortly before, priusquam ex lacu Albano aqua emissa foret).—
II Trop.
   A In gen.: dictum aliquod in aliquem usum tuum opportuna derivatione convertere, Macr. S. 6, 1.—
   B Esp.
   1    In grammat. lang., derivation, etymology of words, Plin. ap. Serv. Aen. 9, 706; Dig. 50, 16, 57; Charis. p. 73 P. et saep.—
   2    In rhetor.
   (a)    An exchanging of one word for another of like meaning, to soften the expression (as fortis for temerarius, liberalis for prodigus, etc.), Quint. 3, 7, 25.—
   (b)    As rhet. fig. = παρηγμένον, the development of a preceding statement or conception into a new thought, Jul. Ruf. Schem. Lex. § 14.