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notitia

Etymology and origin of the Latin word notitia

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Terence
Ultimate origin
Latin (nōscō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [noːˈtɪ.ti.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [noˈtit.t͡si.a][1]

Forms

nōtitia f (genitive nōtitiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from nōtus “known” with the suffix ⟨-itia⟩.[2][1][3] Lucretius and Vitruvius have a fifth-declension ⟨nōtitiēs⟩, and Lucretius a genitive ⟨nōtitiāī⟩.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of acquaintance with a person.[2] Köbler also starts with Terence, whom he dates 190–159 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant acquaintance with a person, as in Terence, and in Caesar carnal knowledge.[2] It meant practical knowledge, familiarity, knowledge of a science or language, as in Cicero, and awareness of a fact, as in Ovid.[2] In Cicero it meant a conception, idea, rendering Greek énnoia, and in Vitruvius, Nepos and Seneca the state of being known, fame.[2][5] Döderlein explains that cognitiō is the act of acquiring knowledge, nōtitia and scientia the state of knowing.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant knowledge, news, fame, acquaintance.[7] In Medieval Latin it meant a list, an account, and a document.[8] English notice came in the early 15th century through Old French, first as “information, knowledge”.[9] It survives in Italian notizia and Spanish noticia.[1]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of acquaintance.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of practical knowledge.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a conception.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English notice is recorded.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Acquaintance; carnal knowledge.[2]
  2. Knowledge, familiarity.[2]
  3. Awareness.[2]
  4. A conception, idea.[2]
  5. Fame; notoriety.[2]
  6. (Medieval Latin) A list; a document.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Notitia.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/notitia. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·