Etymologically
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admiratio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:43. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ad.miːˈraː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ad.miˈrat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

admīrātiō f (genitive admīrātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from admīror “to wonder at” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨admīror⟩ is from ad- and mīror “to wonder”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and the OLD's first citations are from Cicero.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It was wonder, astonishment, surprise, and in the plural expressions of wonder, as in Cicero; admiration, veneration, as in Cicero's tua dīvīna virtūs admīrātiōnis plūs habet quam glōriae; and a marvel, a remarkable thing.[2][5][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant surprise, bewilderment.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for wonder, admiration, and a source of wonder.[8] English admiration (early 15th century) first meant “wonder”, through Old French or directly from Latin.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English admiration is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Wonder, astonishment, surprise.[2]
  2. Admiration, regard.[2]
  3. A marvel.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ 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