Etymologically
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considerabilis

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kõː.siː.dɛˈraː.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [kon.si.deˈraː.bi.lis][1]

Forms

cōnsīderābilis (neuter cōnsīderābile); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin cōnsīderō (“to look at closely, observe”) + -bilis.[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a Medieval Latin word.[2][4] Köbler's first dated source is the first Vita Annonis (1105–1186), with the phrase quasi redivīvam cōnsīderābilem faciem eius cōnsīderantēs, “gazing at his face as if it were restored to life and worth beholding”.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It meant “worth looking at, remarkable”:[4] Du Cange quotes it from a Spanish council in the sense “worth seeing, praiseworthy”.[5] In scholastic Latin the neuter plural named the objects a science examines.[6] Neo-Latin writers used it for what can be thought of, “conceivable”, and for what deserves thought, “worth considering, important”.[7][1]

English considerable is from the mid 15th century, first meaning “capable of being considered, conceivable”; the sense “fairly large” came only in the 1650s.[3]

Timeline

  • 1105–1186 – The first Vita Annonis uses it of a face worth beholding.[4][2]
  • mid 15th century – English considerable is borrowed.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Worth looking at; remarkable, praiseworthy.[4][5][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin, New Latin) That can be considered or thought of; conceivable.[7][6]
  3. (New Latin) Worth considering; important.[7][1]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, neuter plural) The objects of study of a science.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  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. ^ a b c 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
  7. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de