instantia

Forms

īnstantia f (genitive īnstantiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from ⟨īnstāns⟩, the present participle of īnstō “to stand on, press on, be at hand”, with the suffix -ia.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of being present or impending.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the fact of being present or impending, as in Cicero's De fato and Nigidius, and in Pliny earnestness, insistence, urgency, concentration.^[2][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant an earnest request, insistence, and force, pressure.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for urgent necessity or business.^[7] Through Old French instance it gave English instance in the late 14th century, first “urgency, insistence”.^[3] It survives in Italian istanza and Spanish instancia.^[1]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of presence.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English instance is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Presence, imminence.^[2]
2. Earnestness, insistence, urgency.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) An earnest request.^[6]

Related words

• īnstō
• īnstāns
• English instance

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
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