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neutralis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word neutralis

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Quintilian
Ultimate origin
Latin (neuter)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin neutralis
English neutral

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [nɛu̯ˈtraː.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [neu̯ˈtraː.lis][1]

Forms

neutrālis (neuter neutrāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from neuter “neither” with the suffix -ālis.[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Quintilian, whom he dates c. 35–95/96 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a grammatical term, neuter, of gender.[2][3]

British Medieval Latin used it for neutral, as a noun of people taking no side, and in grammar for intransitive.[5] It survives in Italian neutrale and Spanish neutral, and gave English neutral in the 1540s, first in alchemy and of states taking no side.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it.[4]
  • 1406 – A British council text uses it of neutrals.[5]
  • 1540s – English neutral is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (grammar) Neuter.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Neutral, (grammar) intransitive.[5]

References

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

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Neutralis.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/neutralis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·