Etymologically
Log in

importantia

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word importantia

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1430
Ultimate origin
Latin importō
From the same root
English importance ← importantia

Forms

importantia f (genitive importantiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin importāns + -ia,[1][2] the present participle of importō (“to bring in; to bring about”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Dated examples begin in the 15th century: a Hungarian charter of 1430 speaks of matters “magnae importantiae”, of great importance.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant weight or consequence and was used above all in the phrase magnae importantiae “of great importance” in charters and letters of Hungary, Poland and England.[3][4][5] Polish documents also use unius importantiae for “of the same kind, equal”.[4] Humanist and Reformation writers used it too, though Giordano Bruno excused it as a barbarism.[6] English importance comes from it, directly or through French.[2]

Timeline

  • 1430 – A Hungarian charter uses magnae importantiae.[3]
  • 1448 – A Polish letter uses it of the elevation of a bishop to cardinal.[4]
  • 1496 – An English treaty uses it of matters “of whatever nature, quality and importance”.[5]
  • c. 1500 – English importance is first recorded.[2]
  • 1525 – A document of Henry VIII in Thomas More's correspondence uses the same formula.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, New Latin) importance, weight, consequence.[5][3][6][1]

Usage notes

Giordano Bruno, after saying that every such thing has its momentum, adds that it has its importantia, “to speak more properly, though also more barbarously”.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  4. ^ a b c Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b c d Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Importantia.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/importantia. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·