Etymologically
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Utopia

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [uːˈtɔ.pi.a][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [uˈtɔː.pi.a][1]

Forms

Ūtopia f sg (genitive Ūtopiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is a New Latin coinage of Thomas More,[1][2] formed from Ancient Greek οὐ (ou, “not”) + τόπος (tópos, “place”) with the Latin suffix -ia,[1][3] so literally “nowhere”.[2] Etymonline notes that it is commonly but wrongly taken to contain εὖ (eû, “well”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is the name of the imaginary island in More's book, printed at Louvain in 1516, whose title speaks of the best state of a commonwealth and the new island of Utopia.[4][1]

Semantic evolution

The name was used at once for More's book: in a letter of 1516 he writes to Erasmus that he expects “our Utopia” any day, and Giraldi praises it as a book on the happy state of a commonwealth.[4] In British Latin it was also used for any ideal, imaginary country.[3] Jakob Bidermann reused the name for the title of a book in 1640.[4]

English took the word over in 1551, and by the 1610s used it of any perfect place.[2]

Timeline

  • 1516 – Thomas More's book on the new island of Utopia is printed at Louvain.[4][1]
  • 1516 – More writes to Erasmus that he expects “our Utopia” daily.[4]
  • 1551 – English borrows it as utopia.[2]
  • 1640 – Jakob Bidermann publishes a book titled Utopia.[4]

Meanings

Proper noun

  1. Utopia, the imaginary island in Thomas More's book, with a seemingly perfect social, legal and political order.[3][1][5]
  2. The title of More's book.[4][5]
  3. (transferred) Any ideal, imaginary country.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 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
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  5. ^ a b Victionarium (Latin Wiktionary), la.wiktionary.org