iustitia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [juːsˈtɪ.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [jusˈtit.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

iūstitia f (genitive iūstitiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from iūstus “just” with the suffix -ia.^[2][3][4] The manuscripts often write ⟨-ticia⟩, and Isidore notes that the ⟨ti⟩ was pronounced like ⟨z⟩.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence's Heauton timorumenos, of the justice of the person addressed.^[2] Köbler also starts with Terence, whom he dates 190–159 BC.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant justice, fairness, equity, and was personified as a goddess, as in Horace, who calls Fides “the sister of Justice”.^[2] Cicero defines it as the disposition of mind that gives each his due, and the Digest as the constant and perpetual will to give each his right.^[3] In law it could also mean the validity of reasons.^[2] Gaffiot adds written justice, the laws, and uprightness or holiness.^[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant justice, righteousness and moral integrity, and in the plural precepts and judgements; theology counted it a cardinal virtue.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for the Augustinian idea of order in Christian society, for the whole of the laws in force, and for justice administered by king or court.^[8][9] It passed through Old French justice into English, where justice is recorded from the mid-12th century.^[1][10]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero defines it as giving each his due.^[3][5]
• 65–8 BC – Horace personifies it.^[2][5]
• mid-12th century – English justice is recorded, through Old French.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. Justice, fairness, equity, also personified as a goddess.^[2]
2. (law) Validity, adequacy of reasons.^[2]
3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Righteousness, moral integrity, (plural) precepts, judgements.^[7]
4. (Medieval Latin) The law in force; justice as administered by a king or court.^[8][9]

Related words

• iūs
• iūstus
• iniūstitia
• English justice

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b 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
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com