partialitas

Forms

partiālitās f (genitive partiālitātis); third declension^[1] The spelling parcialitas is frequent in the manuscripts.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin partiālis (“partial”), a Medieval Latin formation.^[3][4] The English word partiality was taken from it, partly through Old French.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it after 1300, following Latham.^[3] Du Cange quotes it from a synod of Bergamo in 1311, in the sense of a faction or party.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Italy it named the spirit of party and factiousness:^[6][5] in 1347 Cola di Rienzo asked that the hated names of Guelf and Ghibelline be dropped and every parcialitas laid aside.^[1] In British sources it meant a preference for one side in a dispute or lawsuit, and also the state of being a part rather than a whole.^[2] Polish sources use it for discord and rivalry, and in the plural for partisanship.^[7] A 16th-century statute of the Order of St John uses it of a company or association.^[5]

Timeline

• 1311 – A synod of Bergamo uses it of factions.^[5]
• 1347 – Cola di Rienzo calls for all parcialitas to be set aside.^[1]
• 1441 – Thomas Bekynton lists it beside envy and fraud as something to be avoided.^[2]
• early 15th century – Borrowed into English as partiality.^[4]
• 1584 – Statutes of the Order of St John use it for a fellowship.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Party spirit, factiousness; a faction.^[6][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) Partiality, bias towards one party in a dispute.^[2][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) Discord, rivalry.^[7]
4. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) The state of being partial or a part, as opposed to a whole.^[2]
5. (Medieval Latin) A fellowship or association.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
2. ^ a b c d e 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
3. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f g du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl