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infinitas

Etymology and origin of the Latin word infinitas

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (fīnis)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈfiː.nɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iɱˈfiː.ni.tas][1]

Forms

īnfīnitās f (genitive īnfīnitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from in- (“not”) and fīnis “boundary, end” with -tās; compare īnfīnītus.[2][1][3] De Vaan calls the etymology of ⟨fīnis⟩ disputed, perhaps ⟨*fīg-s-ni-⟩ “driven in”, of a boundary marker.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, who speaks of īnfīnitās locōrum “boundless extent of space”.[5][3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant limitless extent, boundlessness, infinity, and in philosophy the Infinite, as the first principle of Anaximander, both in Cicero, and Ammianus has the plural.[2][3][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for infinity.[7] English infinity (late 14th century) is from it through Old French.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[3][5]
  • c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses the plural.[6][5]
  • late 14th century – English infinity is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Boundlessness, infinity.[2][3]
  2. (philosophy) The Infinite.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Infinitas.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/infinitas. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·