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civilitas

Etymology and origin of the Latin word civilitas

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Quintilian
Ultimate origin
Latin (cīvis)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kiːˈwiː.lɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [t͡ʃiˈviː.li.tas][1]

Forms

cīvīlitās f (genitive cīvīlitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from cīvīlis “of citizens” with the suffix -tās, and cīvīlis is from cīvis “citizen”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Quintilian, who uses it three times to translate Greek politikḗ “politics”.[2][4] Köbler's first source is Ennius.[5] Köbler dates Quintilian c. 35–95/96 AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Quintilian it meant the science of politics.[2][4] In Suetonius it meant behaving as an ordinary citizen rather than a ruler, unassumingness, affability, as in his praise of Augustus' clemency and civility.[2][6] In the Vulgate it meant citizenship.[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant the right of citizenship, the body of citizens and the city-state, and also civil authority, statesmanship, civility and refinement.[7][8] It survives in Italian civiltà.[1] English civility came in the late 14th century, first meaning “the status of a citizen”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of politics.[2][5]
  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of Augustus' affability.[6][5]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of citizenship.[6][5]
  • late 14th century – English civility is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The science of politics.[2]
  2. Unassuming behaviour, affability, civility.[2]
  3. Citizenship.[6][7]
  4. (Medieval Latin) The body of citizens; the city-state.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Civilitas.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/civilitas. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·