Etymologically
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gestura

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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