Etymologically
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exigentia

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Forms

exigentia f (genitive exigentiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin exigēns + -ia,[1] from the present participle of exigō (“to demand, require”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in the Vulgate, in the plural, in the fourth book of Esdras.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Cassiodorus uses it for a need or requirement.[3][5] In medieval charters it is common in phrases such as secundum exigentiam, “as is required”,[6] and it could also mean a legal claim, a request,[7] or a due exacted.[6] British writers used it for a need and in grammar for a requirement.[8] English exigency comes from it through French.[2]

Timeline

  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it in the fourth book of Esdras.[3][4][9]
  • c. 485–c. 580 AD – Cassiodorus uses it for a need.[3][9]
  • 1189 – A charter of Mainz speaks of the requirements of need and convenience.[6]
  • 1580s – Borrowed into English, through French, as exigency.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Late Latin) Need, requirement, exigency.[3][5][10]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Urgency, emergency.[10]
  3. (Medieval Latin, law) A claim; a request.[7]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A due or levy that is exacted.[6]
  • English exigency

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  10. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson