Etymologically
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agilitas

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [aˈɡɪ.lɪ.taːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [aˈd͡ʒiː.li.tas][1]

Forms

agilitās f (genitive agilitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin agilis (“nimble, quick”) + -tās.[2][1] The TLL suggests that Cicero, who does not use the adjective, may have coined it.[3] De Vaan lists that adjective among the derivatives of agō (“to drive, do”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *ag-e/o- (“to do, act”) and Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-e/o- (“to drive, lead”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first known use is in a letter of Cicero to Atticus, where it describes a nimble, pliant nature, which he says usually goes with goodness.[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

Livy uses it of the ease of movement of ships and of the limbs,[2][5] Curtius of wheels, and Seneca of the parts of an animal's body;[2] Pliny the Elder mentions a trainer in agility.[2] Of the mind, beside Cicero, Valerius Maximus has it for quickness of wit.[2] Quintilian uses it of the nimbleness of a rhythm.[3]

Through Old French agilité it gave English agility in the early 15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a nimble, pliant nature.[2][5][6]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the agility of ships and limbs.[2][5][6]
  • 1st century AD – Curtius uses it of wheels.[2][5][6]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a nimble rhythm.[3][6]
  • early 15th century – English borrows it through Old French as agility.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Ease of movement, agility, nimbleness.[2][5]
  2. (of mind or character) Quickness, pliancy.[2][5]

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 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. ^ 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 d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e 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