gratuitas

Forms

grātuītās f (genitive grātuītātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin grātuītus (“freely given”), with the suffix -tās and haplology.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler lists it in Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD),^[2] but the TLL regards the form in that manuscript as falsely made up from gratuitus and prefers the reading gravitatis.^[3] Secure examples are medieval: in a British letter of 1273 the plural thanks someone for considerable favours.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Medieval writers used it for goodwill and favour, a favour or service done, a gift, and gratitude.^[5][4] A charter from Styria of 1276 speaks of the king's goodwill,^[5] and Albertus Magnus uses it for the gratitude of the healed.^[5] Du Cange records it as a title of honour by which a bishop addressed his colleagues.^[6] In Neo-Latin, Serravalle's commentary on Dante uses it for devotion or willingness.^[7]

Timeline

• 1273 – A British letter gives thanks for gratuitates, favours received.^[4]
• 1276 – A Styrian charter speaks of the king's goodwill.^[5]
• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it for gratitude.^[5][2]
• 1508 – A document in Rymer pairs dona et gratuitates, gifts and favours.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) goodwill, favour, kindness.^[5][4]
2. (Medieval Latin) A favour or service done; a gift.^[4][6]
3. (Medieval Latin) gratitude, thankfulness.^[5][4][8]
4. (Medieval Latin) A title of honour used in addressing a bishop.^[6]

Related words

• grātuītus
• grātia

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e f 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
5. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ 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
7. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
8. ^ Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE