Etymologically
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gaudiosus

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Forms

gaudiōsus (feminine gaudiōsa, neuter gaudiōsum); first/second-declension adjective[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin gaudium (“joy”) + -ōsus.[1][3] Du Cange took it from French, comparing French joyeux and Occitan gaujous.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The MLW's earliest citation is a life of Bernard of Parma written shortly after 1133, in which an abbot and his community receive Bernard as a monk with joyful kindness.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant full of joy, glad, and also bringing joy, pleasant.[2][5][6] Albertus Magnus uses it of the magnanimous man who rejoices in good fortune.[2] Ecclesiastical Latin has it for joyful,[7] and late medieval Hungarian sermons speak of the joyful songs of the angels at the birth of Christ.[6] In Bohemian sources it was also used of the life after death.[8]

In Neo-Latin, Bruni explains the Greek word for happiness as taken from rejoicing, quasi vita quedam gaudiosa, “as if a joyful life”.[9]

Timeline

  • shortly after 1133 – A life of Bernard of Parma uses it of a joyful welcome.[2]
  • 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it in his philosophical works.[2][1]
  • 1318 – A British record speaks of joyful embraces.[5]
  • 1333 – A Polish source says the conversion of sinners is a joy to God and his angels.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Full of joy, joyful, glad.[2][7][10][5]
  2. Rejoicing, exultant.[2]
  3. Bringing joy, pleasant.[2][5][6]

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 i Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  4. ^ 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 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
  6. ^ a b c Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
  9. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  10. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill