incompletus

Forms

incomplētus (feminine incomplēta, neuter incomplētum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin in-² (“not”) + complētus (“filled, complete”).^[1][2][3][4] Conte marks it as Late Latin; it is the source of Italian incompleto.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its only ancient source is the astrological work of Firmicus Maternus, who speaks of plans left imperfect and incomplete.^[5][2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

Medieval writers used it widely for what is unfinished, imperfect or defective.^[8][9] A constitution of 1265 is concerned that a peace should not stay unfulfilled for want of means,^[9] and in Hungary a document of 1272 fears that the canons' wandering will leave the divine offices incomplete.^[10] In England it was said of a church not yet finished, of business still to be settled, and of a book that is only partial, such as an incomplete life of Saint Godric in a list of 1442.^[11]

In scholastic philosophy it was the opposite of complētus and perfectus: Albertus Magnus calls the being of matter the most incomplete and imperfect, and reports that alchemists hold every metal but gold to be incomplete,^[9] and Thomas Aquinas speaks of incomplete acts, causes, definitions and forms.^[12] Alexander Neckam uses it of a thirst that cannot be satisfied.^[11] English incomplete comes from it in the late 14th century.^[13]

Timeline

• 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus writes of plans left incomplete.^[5][2][3]
• 1265 – An imperial constitution uses it of a peace left unfulfilled.^[9]
• 1272 – A Hungarian document fears the divine offices will be left incomplete.^[10]
• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it in philosophy and of metals.^[9][3]
• 1324 – An English letter speaks of matters still incomplete.^[11]
• late 14th century – English borrows incomplete.^[13]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Late Latin) Unfinished, not brought to completion.^{[5][2][11][9]}
2. (Medieval Latin) Imperfect, defective; partial, not entire.^{[8][9][11][10]}
3. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) Lacking completeness, as opposed to complētus.^[11][12][9]
4. (Medieval Latin) That cannot be satisfied.^[11]

Related words

• compleō
• English incomplete

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b c d e f g h Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
10. ^ a b c Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
11. ^ a b c d e f g 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
12. ^ a b Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
13. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com