Etymologically
Log in

eminens

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 19 October 2026 at 18:56. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈeː.mɪ.nẽːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛː.mi.nens][1]

Forms

ēminēns (genitive ēminentis, comparative ēminentior, adverb ēminenter); third-declension one-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of ēmineō (“to stand out, project”), used as an adjective.[2][3][1] De Vaan analyses that verb as ē- with a stative Proto-Italic *men-ē- (“to stick out”), from Proto-Indo-European *m(e)n-eh₁-, a root *men- (“to stick out, protrude”) also seen in mentum (“chin”) and mōns (“mountain”); minae (“threats”), first “projecting parts”, belongs to the same root.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero;[5] the OLD's first example is in Caesar's Civil War, of beams made longer and projecting further than the outer walls.[2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is standing out above a surface, projecting or prominent, and of height towering;[2] Quintilian uses it of figures in a painting that stand out against the background.[2] From this it means outstanding in merit or importance, eminent, distinguished, of things, as Vitruvius' “outstanding excellence of art”, and of persons, as Velleius' “the most eminent generals of the enemy”.[2] Ēminentissimus vir, abbreviated ⟨e. v.⟩, was an honorific title of praetorian prefects and officials of similar rank.[2] Church Latin glosses it excellent.[6]

Döderlein groups it with excellēns, praeclārus and praestāns, which acknowledge superiority quietly, against ēgregius, said with enthusiasm, and eximius, said with admiration.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar of projecting beams.[2][5]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of outstanding excellence in art.[2][5]
  • c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius of the most eminent generals.[2][5]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of figures standing out in a painting.[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Standing out above a surface, projecting, prominent; towering.[2][3][1]
  2. Standing out against a background, conspicuous.[2]
  3. Outstanding in merit or importance, eminent, distinguished.[2][6][1]
  4. ēminentissimus vir: an honorific title of praetorian prefects and others of similar rank.[2]

Word family

  • ēminentia

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper