Etymologically
Log in

anxietas

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:48. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aːŋkˈsi.ɛ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aŋkˈsiː.e.tas][1]

Forms

ānxietās f (genitive ānxietātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from ānxius “anxious” with the suffix -tās.[2][1][3] Köbler relates it to angor “anguish”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, who distinguishes anxiety from momentary anguish.[2][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant anxiety, worry, solicitude, a lasting disposition, as against the momentary angor, as Cicero explains.[2][6][5] In Quintilian it meant extreme care, overcarefulness.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant anxiety.[7] Medieval Latin used it for shortage, want, and British Medieval Latin for worry and obligation.[8][9] It was borrowed into French anxiété and Spanish ansiedad, and English anxiety came in the 1520s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of anxiety.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of overcarefulness.[2][4]
  • 1520s – English anxiety is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Anxiety, worry.[2]
  2. Overcarefulness.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Want, shortage.[8]

Usage notes

Lewis and Short and Gaffiot, after Cicero, distinguish it as a lasting disposition from angor, a passing anguish.[6][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 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.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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