Etymologically
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mens

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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

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