Etymologically

familiaritas

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 01:04. This address is a permanent link to this version.

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