Etymologically
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durabilis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [duːˈraː.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [duˈraː.bi.lis][1]

Forms

dūrābilis (neuter dūrābile, adverb dūrābiliter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from dūrō “to harden, last”, from dūrus “hard”, with the suffix -bilis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ovid, of what lasts.[2] Köbler dates Ovid 43 BC–18 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant lasting, durable, as in Ovid, and in Apuleius becoming hard.[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for durable, lasting, as of the long-lived elephant.[5] It survives in Italian durabile and French and Spanish durable, and through Old French it gave English durable in the late 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of what lasts.[2][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of hardening.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English durable is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Lasting, durable.[2]
  2. Becoming hard.[2]

Word family

  • dūrābilitās

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ 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