Etymologically
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metaphysica

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Forms

metaphysica f (genitive metaphysicae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Byzantine Greek μεταφυσική (metaphusikḗ),[1] or the Greek neuter plural μεταφυσικά (metaphusiká).[2][3] This comes from the Greek name of the treatises placed after Aristotle's Physics, from μετά (metá, “after”) and φυσικά (phusiká, “physics”).[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The NGML's early instances include Abelard's glosses on Porphyry, which refer to Aristotle's book entitled Metaphysica for matters the Categories leave out.[4]

Semantic evolution

Andronicus of Rhodes gave the Greek name to refer to the order of Aristotle's books, but Latin writers took it to mean the science of what lies beyond the physical.[3] Gundissalinus explains that divine science is also called metaphysica, “after physics”, because it deals with what is beyond nature.[4] In Medieval Latin it named metaphysics, “first philosophy”, and the title of Aristotle's book;[5][4][6][7] it remained in New Latin.[1] English took it over as Middle English metaphisik, later metaphysics.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 70 BC – Andronicus of Rhodes gives Aristotle's treatises their Greek title.[3]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as metaphisik.[3]
  • 1560s – The English plural metaphysics appears.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) metaphysics, first philosophy.[4][5][8][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) The title of Aristotle's Metaphysics.[5][7][6]

Usage notes

Medieval spellings include methaphisica and methephisica.[5][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Novum Glossarium Mediae Latinitatis ab anno DCCC usque ad annum MCC (1957–), Copenhagen / Geneva / Paris: Union Académique Internationale; IRHT
  5. ^ a b c d 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 Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
  7. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson