Etymologically
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lenitas

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫeː.nɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɛː.ni.tas][1]

Forms

lēnitās f (genitive lēnitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from lēnis “soft, gentle” with the suffix -tās.[2][1][3] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨lēnis⟩ as Proto-Italic *lēni-, from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁-n(o/i)- (“lazy, slow”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of mildness.[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was slowness of movement, placidity, as of the river Arar in Caesar; mildness, smoothness, of sound, as in Cicero's lēnitās vōcis, of taste, as of wine in Pliny the Elder, and of colour; and mildness of character, gentleness, clemency, leniency, as in Terence.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was meekness, tenderness.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for mildness, as in Aldhelm.[7] English lenity (early 15th century, “softness, mildness”) came through Old French or directly from Latin.[3]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of gentleness.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a slow river.[2][5]
  • early 15th century – English lenity is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Slowness, placidity.[2]
  2. Smoothness, mildness (of sound, taste or colour).[2]
  3. Gentleness, clemency, lenity.[2]
  • lēnē
  • lēnīmen
  • lēnīmentum
  • lēniō
  • lēnis
  • lēniter
  • lēnitūdō
  • English lenity

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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