duratio

Forms

dūrātiō f (genitive dūrātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dūrō (“to harden; to last”) + -tiō.^[1][2][3] Etymonline calls it a noun of action from the past-participle stem of the verb, which comes from dūrus (“hard”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The MLW's earliest example is a charter of Bern of 1254, sealed for the lasting validity of a sale.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

Scholastic writers made it a term for continuance in time.^[4][5] Albertus Magnus writes of how long different fruits last, and says that the ancients called eternity any duration not cut off by time;^[4] British schoolmen reduce duration to the category of quantity, and ask whether a motion of any duration is more perfect than a motion of one day.^[5] Polish writers define eternity as permanent duration without succession.^[6] It also meant the period during which something is valid,^[5] and in Hungarian law the duration of prescription.^[7]

From the verb's sense “to harden” it also meant hardening, as of axes in 1397,^[5] and hardness or obstinacy: a pardon of 1383 to the rebellious people of Carcassonne speaks of the time of their stubbornness and dūrātiō.^[8][7] In 1437 Bruni uses it for perseverance.^[9] English duration came from it through Old French in the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 1254 – A charter of Bern uses it of the lasting validity of a sale.^[4][2]
• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it of duration in time.^[4][2]
• late 14th century – English duration is recorded.^[3]
• 1383 – A pardon to the people of Carcassonne uses it of their obstinacy.^[8]
• 1397 – An English account uses it of hardening axes.^[5]
• 1437 – Bruni uses it for perseverance.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Duration, continuance; a period of validity.^{[4][5][1][10][7]}
2. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) Continued existence in time.^[4][6][5]
3. (Medieval Latin) Hardening, as of steel tools.^[5][2]
4. (Medieval Latin) Hardness, obstinacy.^[8][7]
5. (New Latin) Endurance, perseverance.^[9]

Related words

• dūrābilis
• English duration

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
6. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
7. ^ a b c d Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
8. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
9. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
10. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson