aequitas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈae̯.kʷɪ.taːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.kʷi.tas]^[1]

Forms

aequitās f (genitive aequitātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from aequus “level, equal, fair” with the suffix -tās.^[2][1][3] Isidore derives ⟨aequus⟩ from ⟨aequālitās⟩, as being by nature just.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of equanimity and of fairness.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant evenness, flatness of ground, as in the Bellum Hispaniense, and aequitās animī evenness of temper, composure, as Cicero's moderātiōnem animī tuī et aequitātem.^[2][5] In Seneca it meant due proportion, balance.^[2] From Cicero it meant fairness, impartiality, justice, and in law equity, a principle of equity.^[2] Personified, Aequitās was a goddess, as in Valerius Maximus, and a personified quality of the emperors.^[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant justice, equality, righteousness, equity, calmness.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it of equity as distinct from the common law.^[7] Through Old French equite it gave English equity in the early 14th century.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of composure and of fairness.^[2][5][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of balance.^[2][4]
• early 14th century – English equity is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Evenness, flatness.^[2]
2. aequitās animī, composure, equanimity.^[2]
3. Balance, proportion.^[2]
4. Fairness, justice, (law) equity.^[2]
5. Equity personified, a goddess.^[2]

Related words

• aequus
• aequālitās
• iūstitia
• English equity

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 k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com