Etymologically
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anarchia

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [aˈnar.kʰi.a][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [aˈnar.ki.a][1]

Forms

anarchia f (genitive anarchiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀναρχία (anarkhía, “lack of a leader”),[1][2][3] from ἄναρχος (ánarkhos, “without a leader”), made of ἀν- (an-, “not”) and ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “power, rule”).[1][2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first datable use is in Anselm of Havelberg, who writes that the wisest of the Greeks avoided speaking of anarchia, “being without beginning”.[3][2] A glossary in the DMLBS explains the plural as “without rule, or where no one has power”.[5][6]

Semantic evolution

Albert the Great, commenting on Aristotle's Politics, read the first part as ἀνά (aná, “around”) and took the word for rule held by turns, as in the “anarchy of slaves” in which slaves rule one another.[3] In the sense “lawlessness, lack of a ruler” it was used in 1523 in a letter to Erasmus warning that the new idea of Christian liberty was preparing anarchy.[5] English anarchy, from the 1530s, comes from French or directly from this Medieval Latin word.[4]

Timeline

  • 1149–1151 – Anselm of Havelberg uses it of being without beginning.[3][2]
  • 13th century – Albert the Great uses it of rule held by turns.[3][2]
  • 1523 – A letter to Erasmus uses it of lawlessness.[5]
  • 1530s – English anarchy is taken from it or from French.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Absence of a ruler or government; lawlessness, anarchy.[1][5][6]
  2. (theology) Absence of a beginning.[3]
  3. (Albert the Great) Rule held by turns.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d 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
  6. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre