Etymologically
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indefessus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɪn.deːˈfɛs.sʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [in.deˈfɛs.sus][1]

Forms

indēfessus (feminine indēfessa, neuter indēfessum, adverb indēfessē or indēfessim); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin in- (“not”) + dēfessus (“worn out”).[2][1][3] The participle dēfessus belongs to dēfetīscor (“to grow weary”),[2] which Köbler traces to dē- and fatīscor.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Virgil is the first to use it, in the Aeneid, of a tireless right hand.[5][6][4]

Semantic evolution

It is a word of poetry and post-Augustan prose.[5] Ovid sets it against its opposite: Jupiter's wife is dēfessa iubendō, tired of giving orders, while the speaker is indēfessus agendō, tireless in carrying them out.[7][6] Tacitus pairs it with assiduus, diligent,[5] and Apuleius has unceasing grief, indēfessus lūctus.[6] Late writers made the adverbs indēfessē and indēfessim, unweariedly.[5]

In the Middle Ages it was used of tireless servants of Christ and soldiers of God, and of unceasing zeal, care or prayer;[8][9] Bede writes of tireless perseverance.[9] It could also mean everlasting or indissoluble.[8]

Timeline

  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a tireless hand.[5][4]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid contrasts indēfessus with dēfessa.[7][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus pairs it with assiduus.[5][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of unceasing grief.[6][4]
  • 639–709 AD – Aldhelm calls virginity a tireless companion.[9][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Tireless, unwearied, indefatigable.[2][5]
  2. Unceasing, continual.[6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Everlasting, indissoluble.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ 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