Etymologically
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divinus

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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]

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