Etymologically
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humiliter

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [hʊˈmɪ.lɪ.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [uˈmiː.li.ter][1]

Forms

humiliter (comparative humilius, superlative humillimē)[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin humilis (“low, humble”) + -ter, the adverb of that adjective.[2][1][4] humilis is itself derived from humus (“earth, ground”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first example is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, where someone “frightens boldly and placates abjectly” (audaciter territas, humiliter placas).[2][3] Köbler's earliest author is Cicero.[4]

Semantic evolution

The figurative sense came first: in a submissive, abject or mean way, as when Cicero speaks of thinking basely and Livy sets serving humbly against lording it proudly.[3][6] The literal sense, at a low height, appears in Apuleius, who says damper clouds move lower, and in Palladius on keeping the branches of trees low.[2][3] Pliny the Younger uses the superlative of deeds that are lowered to the very bottom by the obscurity of those who do them.[3]

In Christian and medieval Latin the word took on the positive sense “humbly, meekly”;[7][1] British sources from the Life of Cuthbert and Bede on use it so, often in requests and petitions.[7][1]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of thinking in a mean, abject way.[3][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy contrasts serving humbly with ruling proudly.[3][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses the comparative humilius of clouds moving at a lower height.[2][4]
  • end of 4th/beginning of 5th century AD – Palladius advises keeping the branches of trees lower.[3][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. At a low height, low.[2][3]
  2. In a submissive manner, abjectly; meanly, basely.[2][8][3]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) humbly, meekly, especially in requests and petitions.[7][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T. (1890), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: American Book Company
  7. ^ a b c 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
  8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press