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aequabilis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word aequabilis

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (aequus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ae̯ˈkʷaː.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈkʷaː.bi.lis][1]

Forms

aequābilis (neuter aequābile, adverb aequābiliter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from aequō “to make level, equal” with the suffix -bilis, from aequus “level, equal”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant equal, in equal proportions, as in Cicero, and free from variation, uniform, steady, of motions and of conditions.[2] In Varro it meant of uniform texture, without irregularities, and in the Rhetorica ad Herennium equitable, fair.[2] Lewis & Short report the ancient distinction: aequālis is what is equal to another, aequābile what can be made equal.[5]

Alcuin and other British Medieval Latin writers used it for comparable.[6] English equable (1670s) is a back-formation from equability or from the Latin.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4]
  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of fairness.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of uniform motion.[2][4]
  • 1670s – English equable is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Equal, proportionate.[2]
  2. Uniform, steady, equable.[2]
  3. Smooth, even (in texture).[2]
  4. Fair, equitable.[2]

Word family

  • aequābilitās
  • inaequābilis
  • aequābiliter

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 c d 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. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Aequabilis.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/aequabilis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·