levitas
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Pronunciation
Forms
levitās f (genitive levitātis); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is from levis “light” with the suffix -tās.[2][1][3]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of lightness and fickleness.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]
Semantic evolution
It meant lack of weight, lightness, and of pain mildness, as in Cicero.[2] In Cicero it also meant unreliability, fickleness, shallowness.[2]
In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant lightness, fickleness, levity, shallowness.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for the lightness that makes fire rise.[6] Through French it gave English levity in the 1560s, and English levitate was formed from it in the 1670s.[3]
Timeline
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of lightness and fickleness.[2][4]
- 1560s – English levity is recorded.[3]
- 1670s – English levitate is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Noun
Related words
Usage notes
A different lēvitās, from lēvis “smooth”, means smoothness.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
- ^ 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