Etymologically
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liberalitas

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [liː.bɛˈraː.lɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [li.beˈraː.li.tas][1]

Forms

līberālitās f (genitive līberālitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from līberālis “befitting a free man, generous” with the suffix -tās.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of generosity.[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant generosity, nobility, kindliness, as in Terence, and in the Rhetorica ad Herennium munificence, open-handedness.[2] In Tacitus it meant a gift, a donation.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant liberality, generosity.[5] Medieval Latin used it for the status of a free man, and a privileged status.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for generosity of spirit, magnanimity.[7] It was borrowed into Italian liberalità and French libéralité, and through Old French it gave English liberality in the mid-14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of generosity.[2][4]
  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of munificence.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English liberality is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Generosity, kindliness.[2]
  2. Munificence, liberality.[2]
  3. A gift.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) The status of a free man.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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