Etymologically
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passionate

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈpæʃ.ən.ət/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin passionatus (“affected with passion”),[2][3][4] from Latin passio (genitive passionis), suffering, enduring (see passion).[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Easily moved to anger, quick-tempered: about 1450 in the OED, the early 15th century in Etymonline.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

NODE notes that early senses included easily moved to passion and enraged.[4] Dominated by vehement emotion is from 1526,[5] and of language, marked by strong feeling, from 1581.[5] Subject to passion, easily moved, is from 1589.[5] The specific sense amorous is attested from the 1580s.[2] Middle English also had passional, pertaining to the feelings.[2] In Dorset dialect passionate was an aphetic form of compassionate.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 1450 – quick-tempered.[5]
  • 1526 – full of vehement emotion.[5]
  • 1580s – amorous.[2]
  • 1589 – easily moved.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Showing or feeling very strong emotion; ardent: a passionate plea.
  2. Having intense sexual desire.
  3. Easily angered; quick-tempered.

Word family

  • passionately
  • passionateness
  • nonpassionate
  • overpassionate
  • unpassionate

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)