Etymologically
Log in

aequitas

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:51. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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]

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