Etymologically
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amica

Etymology and origin of the Latin word amica

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Naevius
Ultimate origin
Latin (amō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aˈmiː.ka][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈmiː.ka][1]

Forms

amīca f (genitive amīcae, masculine amīcus); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is the feminine of amīcus “friend”, from amō “to love”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation for “mistress” is Naevius, and for “female friend” Plautus.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a female friend, as in Plautus, and a mistress, sweetheart or courtesan, as in Naevius and Cicero.[2][5] The grammarian Probus gives a dative and ablative plural amīcābus, without examples.[5]

It survives in Italian amica, French amie and Spanish and Portuguese amiga.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a mistress.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a female friend.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a mistress.[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A female friend.[2]
  2. A mistress, sweetheart; a courtesan.[2]

Word family

  • amicarius
  • amīcula

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
Cite this entry

“Amica.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/amica. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·