Etymologically
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fides

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɪ.deːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfiː.des][1]

Forms

fidēs f sg (genitive fidē̆ī or fidē or fidī); fifth declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *fiþ-ē- (“trust”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *bʰidʰ-eh₁- (“faith”), from the root of fīdō “to trust”.[2] Meillet saw it as a remaking of PIE *ḱred-dʰeh₁- “belief”, which de Vaan finds far-fetched.[2]

Cognate with Ancient Greek πείθω (peíthō, “to persuade”) and Ancient Greek πίστις (pístis, “faith”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,[2][4] as in “I entrusted the gold to your good faith”.[3]

Semantic evolution

Its early senses were trust placed in someone, protection, and a pledge or promise, as Ennius' “take and give a pledge”.[3] From this it meant credit, especially financial credit, good faith and honesty, as Ennius' “there is no sacred bond or good faith in kingship”, loyalty and allegiance.[3]

It meant credibility and belief, as Cicero's “belief is a firm opinion”, and the fulfilment of a promise.[3] Bona fide meant “in good faith”.[3] In Christian Latin it was the virtue of faith and the Christian religion.[5] It survives as Italian fede, French foi and Spanish fe, and English faith came from Old French.[1][6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of trust and protection.[3][4]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a pledge and of good faith.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero defines it as a firm opinion.[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Trust; protection, tutelage.[3][1]
  2. A guarantee, promise, pledge.[3][1]
  3. The fulfilment (of a promise).[3]
  4. Proof, confirmation.[3]
  5. Credit, good name.[3][1]
  6. Good faith, honesty, bona fide: in good faith.[3][1]
  7. Loyalty, allegiance.[3][1]
  8. Credibility; belief.[3][1]
  9. (Christian Latin) Faith; the Christian religion.[5]

Word family

  • fidēiubeō
  • fidēpromittō
  • fidedictor
  • fideicommittō
  • fidēlis
  • perfidus
  • levifīdus
  • fidēlitās
  • fīdō
  • fīdus
  • English faith

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes fides, keeping one's word, from fidelitas, loyal attachment.[7] A different word fides, fidium, a lyre or its strings, is perhaps from Ancient Greek σφίδη (sphídē, “gut string”).[3][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 i j k l m n o p q r 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 Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper