Etymologically
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defensa

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [deːˈfẽː.sa][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [deˈfɛn.sa][1]

Forms

dēfēnsa f (genitive dēfēnsae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dēfendō (“to ward off, defend”), a noun made on its participle stem.[2][3][4] Köbler connects it with the frequentative dēfēnsō (“to defend”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD) is the first to use it, in Against Marcion (2.18), in the sense “defence”.[2][3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

In Late Latin it meant defence or protection.[1] Medieval Latin used it of fenced or protected land;[6][5] the Constitutions of Melfi (1231) speak of wooded places assigned to the ruler's defensae and to public pastures.[7] Köbler also lists the ban that protected such ground, a castle and a bulwark.[5]

Its descendants include Spanish dehesa, Italian difesa and Portuguese defesa, while French défense and Catalan defensa are borrowings;[1] Wiktionary takes English defense from the French word.[1] Etymonline instead derives the English word, through Old French, from the participle dēfēnsus and its neuter.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it for defence.[2][5]
  • from 643 – Lombard laws use it.[5]
  • 1231 – The Constitutions of Melfi use it of reserved land.[7][5]
  • c. 1300 – English defense, from Old French.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Defence, protection.[2][3][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Fenced or reserved land (a wood or pasture closed to others); the ban protecting it.[6][7][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A fortification, stronghold.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com