Etymologically
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atrocitas

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aˈtroː.kɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈtrɔː.t͡ʃi.tas][1]

Forms

atrōcitās f (genitive atrōcitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from ātrōx “frightful, cruel” with the suffix -tās.[2][1][3] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *atrōkʷ- for ⟨ātrōx⟩, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₁-tr- (“fireplace”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Accius, of savage behaviour.[2] Köbler dates Accius 170–c. 90 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the dreadfulness of a sight or situation, horror, as in Cicero's reī atrōcitās; savageness of character, barbarity, as in Accius; the wickedness or enormity of a crime, and in the plural wicked deeds; and harshness, severity, as in Livy.[2][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for atrocity, savagery, and an atrocious act, as in Aldhelm.[7] English atrocity (1530s, “enormous wickedness”) came through French or directly from Latin.[3]

Timeline

  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of horror.[2][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of severity.[2][5]
  • 1530s – English atrocity is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Dreadfulness, horror.[2]
  2. Savageness, barbarity.[2]
  3. Wickedness, enormity, (plural) wicked deeds, atrocities.[2]
  4. Harshness, severity.[2]

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 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. ^ 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ 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