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As I understand from several sources (e.g) it's meaning is kind of lace/straps. Apparently its a of a medieval origin (encountered that word in Luis Vives 16h century). But I struggle to see how this word came into being: a lone-word? or a new compound word based on stem (like "astrigmen" or so)I was unable to locate.

2 Answers 2

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Astrigmentum is formed from the verb astringere (= prefix ad + stringere), 'to tie up tightly,' and the suffix mentum. In general, this suffix forms 'nouns denoting acts, or means and results of acts' (Allen & Greenough, New Latin grammar §239). Here it denotes 'means' specifically and is added to a de-nasalized form of the present/imperfective verb stem (astring > astrig). Therefore, the word astrigmentum is literally 'a means of tying up.'

The word fragmentum has a similar derivation from a de-nasalized verb stem (of the verb frangere, 'to break') + mentum. However, the suffix denotes 'results' instead of 'means,' so that a fragmentum is literally 'the result of breaking'.

Incidentally, strigmentum, which is mentioned in the other answer, is from the unprefixed root verb of astringere, also de-nasalized. In this case, though, the verb is used with the meaning 'to strip,' 'to shave,' or 'to skim the surface of.' Here too, as for fragmentum, the suffix denotes 'results.'

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Looks like one possible etymology means "[material] thoroughly scraped off." Or perhaps "scraped away."

a + strigmentum

a = not (privative alpha)

a = "away from;" "completely, thoroughly;" indicates absence

strigmentum, i, n.

I. In gen., that which is scratched or scraped off, a scraping (post-Aug.), Plin. 20, 3, 8, § 17.— II. In participle, filth or dirt scraped off, Cels. 2, 6 med.; 5, 2, 4; Plin. 9, 51, 74, § 160; 28, 4, 13, § 51; Val. Max. 9, 14, ext. 2 al.

From the Lewis and Short lexicon, via Perseus Word Study Tool

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    Good catch; the PIE to Latin equivalent is in-. Answer edited. Oct 2, 2020 at 14:19

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