Etymologically
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dignitas

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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
  • 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