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aeternitas

Etymology and origin of the Latin word aeternitas

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (aevum)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ae̯ˈtɛr.nɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈtɛr.ni.tas][1]

Forms

aeternitās f (genitive aeternitātis); third declension[1] An inscription spells it eternitās.[2]

Etymology

It is from aeternus “eternal” with the suffix -tās; ⟨aeternus⟩ is a contraction of ⟨aeviternus⟩, from aevum “age”.[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 infinite time, eternity, as in Cicero's ex omnī aeternitāte “from all eternity”; immortality, as in Cicero; and of materials permanence, durability, as in Vitruvius.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant eternity.[6] British Medieval Latin used it also for eternal life and everlasting remembrance.[7] English eternity came through Old French eternité in the late 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of durability.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English eternity is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Eternity, infinite time.[2]
  2. Immortality.[2]
  3. Permanence, durability.[2]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Eternal life.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ 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. ^ a b 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

“Aeternitas.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/aeternitas. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·