dignitas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdɪŋ.nɪ.taːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdiɲ.ɲi.tas]^[1]

Forms

dignitās f (genitive dignitātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dignus (“worthy”) + -tās.^[2][3] Etymonline traces dignus to Proto-Indo-European *dek-no-, from *dek- (“to take, accept”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, in the Bacchides, has a cook prepare food fit for the worth of the provisions.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Its first senses were fitness for a task and worthiness or merit, as Cicero speaks of equal worthiness to stand for the consulship.^[2][5] It then meant rank or status, as gradus dignitātis, and standing, esteem or importance, the public prestige of a Roman statesman.^[2] In style and appearance it meant stateliness, dignity.^[1][6] Metonymically it could name a person of high rank, a dignitary.^[1]

In medieval Latin it was a high office, and also the whole of a lord's rights and possessions.^[7] British writers used it of dignity, stateliness and as a title of address.^[8] English dignity is recorded around 1200, and English dainty goes back through Anglo-French deintie “value, delicacy” to the same Latin word.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of worth.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of standing.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rank and merit.^[2][3]
• c. 1200 – English dignity is recorded.^[4]
• mid-13th century – Middle English deinte, the source of dainty, is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Fitness, worthiness, merit.^[2][1]
2. Excellence.^[2]
3. Rank, status.^[2][1]
4. Standing, esteem, prestige.^[2]
5. Dignity, stateliness.^[1][8]
6. A person of rank, dignitary.^[1]
7. (Medieval Latin) A high office; a lord's domain and rights.^[7]

Word family

• dignitōsus

Related words

• dignus
• English dignity
• English dainty

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b 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