casualitas

Forms

cāsuālitās f (genitive cāsuālitātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a medieval formation from Latin cāsuālis + -tās.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest dated record in British sources is from 1330, in the Register of Hereford, where crops may be lessened by storm, accident or barrenness.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In Medieval Latin it meant chance or an accidental event.^[4][3] In Poland it was used of an event or circumstance.^[2] From the 15th century British documents also used it for casual revenue, income falling to a lord by chance, listed beside forfeitures, wardships and marriages;^[3][5] in grammar Grosseteste used it for the assignment of a word to a case.^[3] The English casualty, “chance, accident”, was formed separately from casual.^[6]

Timeline

• 1330 – The Register of Hereford uses it for an accident.^[3][1]
• 1349 – A charter speaks of disputes arising from certain circumstances.^[2]
• 1460 – The English Fine Rolls list casualitates among a manor's revenues.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Chance, an accident.^[4][3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) An event, a circumstance.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Casual revenue, income falling to a lord by chance.^[3][5]
4. (Medieval Latin, grammar) Assignment to a case.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
4. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com