Etymologically
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industria

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈdʊs.tri.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈdus.tri.a][1]

Forms

industria f (genitive industriae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is the feminine of industrius “active, diligent” used as a noun, perhaps with opera “work” understood.[2][3][1] De Vaan derives industrius from *endo-struwo-, built on struō “to build, arrange”, with the old preposition indu “in”.[4] Paulus' Festus records an old form indostruum.[4] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *strow-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *streu-e/o-.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,[4][5] where a mistress brought a girl up “with great care”.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant diligent, purposeful activity, application or industry, as Cicero's “talent is nourished by industry” and Nepos' great diligence in preparing for war.[2][6] In the phrases de industria, ex industria and ob industriam it meant “on purpose, deliberately”.[2][1]

Köbler lists later senses such as skill, cleverness and art.[5] English industry came from it in the late 15th century, first meaning “cleverness, skill”.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of care in bringing up a girl.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero says talent is nourished by industry.[6][5]
  • c. 100–24 BC – Nepos uses it of preparing for war.[6][5]
  • late 15th century – English industry is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Diligent activity, application, industry, diligence.[2][1]
  2. Purpose, de industria, ex industria: on purpose, deliberately.[2][1]
  3. Skill, cleverness.[5]

Word family

  • industriosus

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes opera, activity without strain, from labor, strenuous exertion that brings fatigue.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper