finus

Forms

fīnus (feminine fīna, neuter fīnum); first/second-declension adjective^[1][2]

Etymology

Niermeyer and Köbler derive it from fīnis (“end, limit”).^[3][1] Du Cange explains it as a word for what can have nothing added to it, as if it had reached its end, and sets it beside French ⟨fin⟩ and Italian ⟨fino⟩;^[4] the DMLBS and the MLW compare Old French fin and Middle English fin.^[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The MLW's first example is a charter of 1219 from Langeln, in which a church sells revenues for 450 marks of fine silver.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It is used above all of precious metal: argentum fīnum is refined or pure silver, as in a charter of the archbishop of Sens of 1231 and in English accounts of 1300.^[5][4][2] It also praises fine work and cloth: the DMLBS has a chasuble trimmed with fine orphrey in 1245, gold embroidery in 1295, and aldermen in “the finest scarlet” in 1432.^[2] Du Cange quotes a life of St Fina which says that people commonly call the best of anything fīnus or fīnissimus.^[4]

Timeline

• 1219 – A charter of Langeln reckons a price in marks of fine silver.^[5]
• 1231 – A charter of Gautier, archbishop of Sens, speaks of fīnum argentum.^[4]
• 1245 – An inventory of St Paul's in London records a chasuble with fine orphrey.^[2]
• 1300 – English accounts use it of refined silver.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) fine, of excellent quality.^[3][2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin, of metal) refined, pure.^[2][5]

References

1. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
3. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
5. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften