Etymologically
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magnanimus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [maŋˈna.nɪ.mʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [maɲˈɲaː.ni.mus][1]

Forms

magnanimus (feminine magnanima, neuter magnanimum, comparative magis magnanimus, superlative maximē magnanimus); first/second-declension adjective[1] Virgil and Statius have the genitive plural magnanimum.[2]

Etymology

It is a compound of magnus “great” and animus “spirit”, modelled on Ancient Greek μεγάθυμος (megáthumos, “great-hearted”) and Ancient Greek μεγαλόψυχος (megalópsukhos, “great-souled”).[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant noble in spirit, great-souled, magnanimous, and Virgil uses it of animals.[2] Lewis & Short call it rare but classical, and Cicero has virī fortēs, magnanimī.[4]

Alcuin and other British Medieval Latin writers used it for great-souled, magnanimous.[5] English took magnanimous in the 1580s, first “nobly brave or valiant”.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of brave men.[4][3]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of animals.[2][3]
  • 1580s – English magnanimous is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Noble in spirit, great-souled, magnanimous.[2]

Word family

  • magnanimitās

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com