mens

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈmẽːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛns]^[1]

Forms

mēns f (genitive mentis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *mn̥ti-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *mn-ti- (“thought, mind”).^[2] Wiktionary gives the PIE form as Proto-Indo-European *méntis.^[1]

Cognate with Sanskrit मति (matí, “thought, mind”), Lithuanian mintìs (“thought”), Old Church Slavonic памѧть (pamętĭ, “memory”) and Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌹𐌽𐌸𐌹 (gaminþi, “memory”),^[2] and with English mind.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius onwards.^[2][4] In Plautus a man says he is turning great matters over in his mind.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was the seat of thought, the mind, also the divine mind that orders the universe, as in Cicero.^[3] It was used of attention, of sanity and balance, and of emotions, and it meant a purpose or intention, a frame of mind, will, and self-possession, as in Cicero's man who lost heart at the news.^[3]

Isidore says the mens is so called because it stands out in the soul or because it remembers.^[5] The Romance languages kept it, and it became the adverb ending -mente of Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.^[1][6] English mental comes from its Late Latin derivative mentālis.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the mind.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the divine mind and of purpose.^[3][4]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains its name.^[5][4]
• early 15th century – English mental comes from mentālis.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The mind, the intellect.^[3][1]
2. The divine mind, the creative principle of the universe.^[3]
3. Attention, concentration.^[3]
4. Sanity, reason.^[3][1]
5. The heart, as the seat of feeling.^[3][1]
6. Purpose, intention.^[3][1]
7. Frame of mind, attitude; will.^[3][1]
8. Composure, resolution.^[3]

Word family

• āmēns
• dēmēns
• mentālis
• mentior

Related words

• meminī
• moneō
• English mind
• English mental

Usage notes

Isidore notes that the person is called the image of God according to the mens.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
6. ^ Buchi, Éva; Schweickard, Wolfgang, eds. (2008–), Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman (DÉRom), Nancy: ATILF, http://www.atilf.fr/DERom
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com