Etymologically
Log in

familiaritas

Etymology and origin of the Latin word familiaritas

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Terence
Ultimate origin
Latin (familiāris)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin familiaris
Latin familiaritas

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [fa.mɪ.liˈaː.rɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fa.mi.liˈaː.ri.tas][1]

Forms

familiāritās f (genitive familiāritātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin familiāris (“of the household; intimate”) + -tās, from familia “household”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Terence.[3] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant close friendship, familiar intercourse, intimacy, as in Cicero's summa familiāritās, familiāritātem habēre was to be on intimate terms.[2][4][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means intimacy, familiarity.[5] Medieval Latin used it for royal protection of a monastery and the condition of a privileged dependant.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for membership of a household and the household itself.[7] English familiarity (c. 1200) is from it.[8]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.[3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[4][3]
  • c. 1200 – English familiarity is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Intimacy, close friendship, familiarity.[2][9]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Royal protection; the status of a privileged dependant.[6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A household.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b 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
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Familiaritas.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/familiaritas. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·