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immunis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word immunis

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (mūnus)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin immunis
English immune

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪmˈmuː.nɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [imˈmuː.nis][1]

Forms

immūnis (neuter immūne); third-declension two-termination adjective[1] It is also spelled inmūnis and immoenis.[2]

Etymology

It is from in- “not” and ⟨-mūnis⟩ “owing a duty”, as in commūnis, related to mūnus “duty, service”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of someone not paying his share.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant not doing one's part, not paying one's share, as in Plautus.[2] In Cicero it meant exempt from tribute or taxes, and exempt from duties, and in Virgil having no share in, free from.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant immune, free from, preserved.[5] Medieval Latin used it for guiltless, enjoying the privilege of immunity, private, and deprived of something.[6] British Medieval Latin used it of people and land exempt from exactions.[7] It survives in Italian immune and Spanish inmune, and gave English immune in the mid-15th century, “free, exempt”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of not paying one's share.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of exemption from taxes.[2][4]
  • mid-15th century – English immune is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Not doing one's part; not paying one's share.[2]
  2. Exempt from taxes; exempt from duties.[2]
  3. Free (from), having no share (in).[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Guiltless; enjoying immunity.[6]

Word family

  • immūnitās

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ 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

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Cite this entry

“Immunis.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/immunis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·