Etymologically
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importantia

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 15:08. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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