Etymologically
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duratio

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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]

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