humanitas

Forms

hūmānitās f (genitive hūmānitātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from hūmānus “human” with the suffix -tās.^[2][1][3] Wiktionary says Cicero coined it as a calque of Ancient Greek φιλανθρωπία (philanthrōpía), but the Rhetorica ad Herennium already has it.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Rhetorica ad Herennium, which speaks of clemency, humanity and pity.^[4][2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant human nature or character, as Cicero's vīs hūmānitātis “the force of human feeling”, and the quality that distinguishes the civilized from savages, culture, refinement, as Caesar's Belgae farthest from the culture of the province.^[2][5] It also meant humane character, kindness, human feeling, as in Cicero and Caesar.^[2] Lewis and Short say it is used mostly by Cicero.^[6] Döderlein describes it as a universal virtue that ennobles mind and heart and gives mildness and kindness.^[7]

In Christian and Medieval Latin it meant mankind, the human nature assumed by Christ, and also provisions, a livelihood, and spiritual consolation.^[8][9] It survives in Spanish humanidad and Italian umanità.^[1] Through Old French it is the source of English humanity in the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of kindness.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of human nature and culture.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of civilization.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English humanity is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Human nature, humanity.^[2]
2. Civilization, culture, refinement.^[2]
3. Kindness, humane feeling.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) Mankind; the human nature of Christ.^[8][9]

Related words

• hūmānus
• homō
• English humanity

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b 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