Etymologically
Log in

actualis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 14:49. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [aːk.tuˈaː.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ak.tuˈaː.lis][1]

Forms

āctuālis (neuter āctuāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin āctus (“a doing, act”) + -ālis.[1][2][3] The TLL equates it with Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós, “practical”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Macrobius uses it in his commentary on the Dream of Scipio, of the practical virtues.[4][5][2]

Semantic evolution

Isidore of Seville calls practical philosophy philosophia actualis, the part that works out its subjects in action, and a noun that expresses an action nomen actuale.[2][6][5]

In the Church it described the active life of good works as opposed to the contemplative (vita actualis): Aldhelm says that the practical way of life is what “we call actualis”, and Bede uses it too.[7][8][9] Theologians spoke of actual sin, committed by the person, as opposed to original sin.[9][8] In scholastic philosophy it meant existing in act, as opposed to habitual, virtual or potential;[10][8] it could also mean “real, actual” and “present, immediate”.[8] English took it over as actual in the early 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 1st half of 5th century AD – Macrobius uses it of the practical virtues.[4][5][11]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville speaks of philosophia actualis.[2][6][11]
  • 640 – A text distinguishes actual sin from original sin.[9]
  • before 690 – Aldhelm uses it of the active life.[9]
  • early 14th century – Borrowed into English as actual.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Late Latin) Active, practical; expressing action.[4][6][5][2]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Of the active life, as opposed to the contemplative.[7][8][9]
  3. (theology, of sin) Committed by the person, actual, as opposed to original.[9][8]
  4. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) Existing in act, actual, as opposed to habitual, virtual or potential; real.[10][8]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Present, immediate.[8]

Usage notes

The adverb is actualiter “actively”.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon 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 Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ a b c d e f 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
  10. ^ a b Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
  11. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de