apologeticus

Forms

apologēticus (feminine apologētica, neuter apologēticum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀπολογητικός (apologētikós, “suitable for a defence”).^[1][2][3][4] Conte classes it as a Late Latin word.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word first appears as the title of Tertullian's defence of Christianity, the Apologeticum (or Apologeticus, understood as liber, “book”).^[2][5][6] Lactantius refers to the book “to which the name Apologeticum is given”.^[7]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant serving to defend or justify, and Rufinus already uses it so.^[5][3] Isidore of Seville defines an apologeticum as an excuse, the kind of text in which one answers one's accusers.^[7]

Medieval writers used the adjective of words and letters written in someone's defence, and the noun for a written defence or apology, especially of the orthodox faith.^[3][4] Aldhelm speaks of the defending truth of words, and Alcuin of letters containing a defence.^[4] An Old English gloss renders it beladung.^[4] Humanists such as Manetti and Petrarch still used it, Manetti as the title of his defence against his detractors.^[8] English took it over in the 1640s, through French.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian's defence of Christianity is called the Apologeticum.^[2][6]
• c. 250–317 AD – Lactantius names Tertullian's book.^[7][6]
• c. 345–411/412 AD – Rufinus uses the word as an adjective.^[5][6]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville defines it as a reply to accusers.^[7][6]
• 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it of words spoken in someone's defence.^[4][6]
• 796 – Alcuin writes of letters containing a defence.^[4]
• 1640s – Borrowed into English, through French, as apologetic.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Serving as a defence; apologetic, justifying.^[3][4][10]

Noun

1. (as apologeticum, neuter, or apologeticus, masculine) A written defence, an apology.^[5][3][4]
2. (Apologeticum) The title of Tertullian's defence of Christianity.^[2][5]

Related words

• apologia
• English apologetic

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
5. ^ a b c d e f Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson