Satan

Forms

Satan m (indeclinable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Σατάν (Satán), from Biblical Hebrew שָׂטָן (Śāṭān, “adversary, accuser”).^[1][2] The Hebrew noun comes from a verb meaning “to show enmity to, oppose”.^[2] Latin also has the declinable form Satanās, from Σατανᾶς (Satanâs).^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD), who uses it both for an adversary in general and for the Devil.^[3][5][6]

Semantic evolution

In Christian Latin the indeclinable Satan and the declinable Satanas (vocative Satana) both named the Devil and could still mean an adversary.^[7][3] In the Vulgate the form Satan is found only in the Old Testament,^[2] while the Gospels have the vocative: vade retro me, Satana “get behind me, Satan” (Mark 8:33).^[8] Medieval writers used it of the Devil, and called a criminal or sinner his accomplice, satelles Satanae.^[9][4] Old English took the name from Late Latin.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it for an adversary and for the Devil.^[3][5][6]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate has Satan in the Old Testament.^[2][6]
• 731–770 AD – An inscription from Villayón in Hispania citerior has the word.^[10]

Meanings

Proper noun

1. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Satan, the Devil.^[3][5][7][9]
2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An adversary, enemy.^[3][5][7]

Related words

• Satanas
• English Satan

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ Jeanneau, Gérard; Woitrain, Jean-Paul; Hassid, Jean-Claude (2017), Dictionnaire latin-français, online ed., prima-elementa.fr
9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
10. ^ Kaše, Vojtěch; Heřmánková, Petra; Sobotková, Adéla et al. (2024), LIST: Latin Inscriptions in Space and Time, v1.2 (EDCS + EDH), Aarhus: SDAM, doi:10.5281/zenodo.10473706