Etymologically

adhaerentia

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 10:43. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [a.dae̯ˈrɛn.ti.a][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [a.deˈrɛn.t͡si.a][1]

Forms

adhaerentia f (genitive adhaerentiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin adhaerēns + -ia, from the present participle of adhaereō (“to cling to”).[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL records it, with a question mark, in Tertullian's Against Marcion, where Jesus orders the dust to be shaken off as a testimony against them; this is the reading of the early editions, while the manuscripts have other words.[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The word became common in medieval Latin.[5][6] In its physical sense it meant adhesion, the power of sticking to something, in alchemy, medicine and natural science, and in anatomy a growing together.[5][6] Figuratively it meant attachment, devotion or support, and also a party or faction of supporters;[5][6][7][8] Du Cange glosses it as association or union.[5][6][7][8] In law it meant an appurtenance, what belongs to a property.[9][5][8] A Polish charter of 1354 grants a town with all its appendages and appurtenances.[10]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian may use it, in the reading of the early editions.[2][4]
  • 12th–13th century – Geber's Summa uses it of adhesion to a vessel.[5][4]
  • 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it of the cohesion of matter.[5][4]
  • 1354 – A Polish charter uses it of the appurtenances of a town.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) Adhesion, the sticking of one thing to another.[5][6][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Attachment, adherence, support; a party or faction.[5][6][8]
  3. (Medieval Latin, law) An appurtenance.[9][5][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  8. ^ a b c d e Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl