fas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfaːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfas]^[1]

Forms

fās n sg (indeclinable, no genitive)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *fās, probably inherited from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂-os (“saying, utterance”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to speak”) of fārī.^[2][1] De Vaan thinks the noun first survived only in the phrase “the saying exists”, hence “it is right”, and that fāstus and fānum were derived from it.^[2] The OLD calls the connection with fārī doubtful.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.^[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was what is right or permitted by divine law, the will of heaven, and then what is morally right or proper.^[3] It was usually a predicate, fās est “it is right, it is allowed”, and was often opposed to nefās.^[3] Cicero speaks of destroying all iūs ac fās, human and divine law.^[5] Isidore defines it as divine law, against iūs, human law: to cross another's field is fās, but not iūs.^[6]

Medieval Latin kept it in the phrase contrā iūs fāsque.^[7] Its negative nefās gave nefārius, the source of English nefarious about 1600.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of destroying all iūs ac fās.^[5][4]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore contrasts fās with iūs.^[6][4]
• c. 1600 – English nefarious is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. What is right by divine law.^[3]
2. The will of heaven.^[3]
3. What is morally right, proper, fās est, it is allowed.^[3]
4. A sense of right; a right, a claim.^[3]

Word family

• fānum
• fāstus
• nefās

Related words

• for
• English nefarious

Usage notes

It is indeclinable and used almost only in the nominative and accusative.^[3][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
7. ^ 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