revolutio

Revolutio is a Latin noun that denotes a turning back, a turning around, or a change in order. It is formed from the prefix re- meaning “back” or “again” and volutio, from volvere “to roll” or “to turn.” In classical Latin the term could refer to a physical turning or to a change of state; in medieval and early modern Latin it was used to translate the modern concept of political or social upheaval. Through its usage, revolutio serves as the etymological source of the English word revolution and of cognates in Romance languages (revolución in Spanish, rivoluzione in Italian, révolution in French).

In English, revolutio is rarely used outside quotations, glossaries, or discussions of etymology; the standard term for political or social upheaval remains revolution. In contemporary contexts, revolutio may appear as a proper noun, adopted as a name for artistic works, brands, or fictional settings, with meaning defined by context rather than by a fixed definition.

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