intangibilis

Forms

intangibilis (neuter intangibile); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin in- (“not”) + tangibilis (“that can be touched”),^[1][3] the second part being the Late Latin adjective from tangō (“to touch”).^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is in Bede's De temporum ratione, which Köbler dates to the first third of the 8th century:^[1] the things nearest to the zone of fire cannot be touched at all because of the heat.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

From “that cannot be touched” it came to mean “impalpable, incorporeal”:^[4][2] Bracton writes that servitudes and rights cannot be seen, since they are incorporeal and therefore invisible and intangible,^[4] and Albertus Magnus calls the air through which sound spreads invisible and intangible.^[2] A Life of Saint Winwaloe quoted by Du Cange calls a sheltered place untouched by almost every wind, which Du Cange explains as exposed to no discomfort.^[5]

In the Latin of the Czech lands it also meant “touchy, irritable”.^[6] English borrowed intangible in the 1630s, from French or directly from this Medieval Latin word.^[3]

Timeline

• first third of the 8th century – Bede uses it of things that cannot be touched because of heat.^[1][2][4]
• 1239–1256 – Bracton calls rights intangible.^[1][4]
• c. 1260 – Latham's record of the word.^[1]
• 1630s – English borrows it as intangible.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) That cannot be touched; untouched, sheltered.^[2][4][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) Intangible, impalpable, incorporeal.^[4][2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Touchy, irritable.^[6]

Related words

• English intangible

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g 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
5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences