divinus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [diːˈwiː.nʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈviː.nus]^[1]

Forms

dīvīnus (feminine dīvīna, neuter dīvīnum, comparative dīvīnior, superlative dīvīnissimus, adverb dīvīnē or dīvīnitus); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *deiwīnos, by surface analysis dīvus “divine, a god” with the suffix -īnus.^[1][2] The OLD compares Oscan deivinais.^[2] Inscriptions have ⟨deiv-⟩, ⟨deu-⟩ and ⟨deinus⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^[3] The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus and Ennius.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant of the gods, divine, and rēs dīvīnae religious matters, and of places sacred, as in Plautus.^[2] Rēs dīvīna or dīvīnum was a religious rite, a sacrifice.^[2] Of persons it meant of divine nature, and in Cicero godlike, superlative, as his animōs esse dīvīnōs.^[2][4] It meant inspired by a god, of things magical, and in Ennius able to foresee the future, prophetic, and as a noun a soothsayer, as in Cicero and Horace.^[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant divine, and dīvīnum officium the divine office.^[5][3] Medieval Latin used it as a noun for a theologian.^[6] Through Old French divin it gave English divine in the late 14th century.^[7] Its noun use survives in French devin.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius has the word.^[3]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the gods and of rites.^[2][3]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of foresight.^[2][3]
• late 14th century – English divine is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of the gods, divine; sacred, rēs dīvīnae, religion.^[2]
2. rēs dīvīna, a sacrifice, rite.^[2]
3. Of divine nature; godlike, excellent.^[2]
4. Inspired; magical.^[2]
5. Prophetic; as a noun, a soothsayer.^[2][4]
6. (Medieval Latin) As a noun, a theologian.^[6]

Related words

• dīvus
• deus
• dīvīnātiō
• English divine
• English divination

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com