Etymologically
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activus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aːkˈtiː.wʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [akˈtiː.vus][1]

Forms

āctīvus (feminine āctīva, neuter āctīvum, adverb āctīvē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin agō (“to do, drive”) + -īvus.[2][1] The grammatical sense is a semantic loan from Ancient Greek ἐνεργητικός (energētikós).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Seneca the Younger writes that philosophy is both contemplative and active, and Quintilian uses it of the practical arts.[3][4] Köbler dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD and Quintilian about 35–95/96 AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant practical or active, in contrast to contemplative or speculative, of philosophy and the arts.[2][3] The grammarians used it of active verbs, which express an action done to something else, opposed to passive.[2][6] Lactantius has an active element opposed to a passive one.[6]

Medieval writers used it of active forces opposed to passive ones in natural philosophy, and of the vita activa, the active life, as opposed to the contemplative.[7][8] English active is recorded from the mid-14th century, first of worldly activity as opposed to the monastic life.[9]

Timeline

  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca contrasts active and contemplative philosophy.[3][5]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of practical arts.[3][5]
  • mid-14th century – English active is recorded.[9]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. practical, active, concerned with action rather than contemplation.[2][3]
  2. (grammar) Active.[2][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Of the active life, vita activa.[7][8]

Word family

  • āctīvē

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com