iniurius

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈjuː.ri.ʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈjuː.ri.us]^[1]

Forms

iniūrius (feminine iniūria, neuter iniūrium); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

The OLD derives it from iniūria “injustice” with the suffix -ius, and Wiktionary and Georges take it as in- “not” and iūs “right, law”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^[4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant harsh, unjust, unfair, of people and of actions, as in Plautus and Terence, iniūrium est meant “it is unjust”, and Cicero uses it in De officiis.^[2][3][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for wrongful, unfair, damaging.^[6] Its noun iniūria “wrong, injustice” gave English injury in the late 14th century through Anglo-French injurie.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of people and actions.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[5][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Unjust, unfair, harsh.^[2]

Word family

• iniūria
• periniūrius

Related words

• iūs
• English injury

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ 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
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com