aequanimitas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ae̯.kʷaˈnɪ.mɪ.taːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [e.kʷaˈniː.mi.tas]^[1]

Forms

aequanimitās f (genitive aequanimitātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from aequus “even, calm” and animus “mind”, through ⟨aequanimis⟩, with -tās.^[2][1][3] De Vaan finds no convincing etymology for ⟨aequus⟩.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Terence, of goodwill.^[2][5] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

Before the classical period it meant goodwill, kindness, favour, as in the prologues of Terence; later it meant calmness of mind, equanimity, as in Seneca and Pliny, and Lewis & Short note it is rare beside the phrase aequus animus.^[2][3][5]

English equanimity (c. 1600) is from it through French.^[7]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of goodwill.^[2][6]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of calmness.^[2][6]
• c. 1600 – English equanimity is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Goodwill, favour.^[2][3]
2. Calmness of mind, equanimity.^[2][5]

Related words

• aequus
• animus
• English equanimity

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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com