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gestura

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word gestura

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1297, court roll of Hales
Ultimate origin
Latin gestus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin gestus
French geste
Latin gestura
English gesture
From the same root
Latin gestio ← gestus

Forms

gestūra f (genitive gestūrae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin gestus (“gesture, carriage, posture”), according to Etymonline.[2] Köbler refers it to the verb gerō (“to carry; to conduct”).[1] The DMLBS instead gives as its source Anglo-Norman gesture.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first dated record is a court roll of Hales of 1297, where a woman named Margery finds sureties dē bonā gestūrā, for her good behaviour.[3][1]

Semantic evolution

It is a word of medieval British sources.[3][1] In the courts it meant conduct, behaviour, above all in the formula dē bonā gestūrā: in 1378 the records of Leicester have men standing surety for a man's good behaviour towards the king, and in 1494 the register of Merton College speaks of improper conduct and indecent talk with a respectable woman.[3] It also meant a person's bearing or manner:[3] Adam Usk, under the year 1399, tells of someone brought in to King Richard's dinner in the Tower to observe his manner and bearing,[3] and the Pseudo-Elmham Life of Henry V says that Sigismund wished to see the noble manners and bearings of England and France.[3][4] Köbler and Du Cange also render it as a way of acting, a method.[1][4]

English gesture, first “manner of carrying the body”, was taken from it in the early 15th century.[2]

Timeline

  • 1297 – A court roll of Hales uses it of good behaviour.[3][1]
  • 1378 – The records of Leicester have it in the formula dē bonā gestūrā.[3]
  • 1494 – The register of Merton College speaks of improper conduct.[3]
  • early 15th century – English borrows gesture “manner of carrying the body”.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) Personal bearing, manner, deportment.[3][4][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin, law) Conduct, behaviour;[3] dē bonā gestūrā: of good behaviour.[3]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A way of acting, a method.[1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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
  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

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Gestura.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/gestura. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·