Etymologically
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identicus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɪˈdɛn.tɪ.kʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [iˈdɛn.ti.kus][1]

Forms

identicus (feminine identica, neuter identicum, adverb identicē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin identitās (“sameness”) with the suffix -icus, a Medieval Latin formation;[2][1] that noun is from īdem (“the same”).[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it to about 1300 from Latham's word list,[3] and the DMLBS quotes it from Duns Scotus, as a term of logic and philosophy.[2]

Semantic evolution

It stayed a term of the schools: “identical”, the same in quality or attributes.[2][1] Ecclesiastical Latin uses it, with the adverb identicē, simply for “identical”.[4][1]

Timeline

  • c. 1300 – First recorded in British medieval Latin.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin, logic, philosophy) The same, identical (in quality or attributes).[2][1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson