passio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpas.si.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpas.si.o]^[1]

Forms

passiō f (genitive passiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from patior “to suffer, undergo” with the suffix -tiō, modelled on Ancient Greek πάθος (páthos, “suffering, emotion”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of an affection of the mind.^[2] Köbler also starts with Varro, whom he dates 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Varro passiō animī meant an affection of the mind, an emotion, and in Apuleius a natural effect.^[2] Lewis and Short call its main sense, a suffering, enduring, post-classical, as in Tertullian and Prudentius.^[5] In Christian Latin it meant the Passion of Christ, as in Lactantius and the Vulgate.^[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant suffering, passion.^[7] Medieval Latin used it of undergoing, enduring, and of pain, illness and discomfort.^[8] British Medieval Latin used it of emotions, especially sinful passions.^[9] Through Old French passion it gave English passion about 1200, first of the sufferings of Christ.^[10]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of emotion.^[2][4]
• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it of suffering.^[5][4]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of the Passion.^[6][4]
• c. 1200 – English passion is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. An emotion, passion.^[2]
2. A natural effect.^[2]
3. (Late Latin) Suffering, endurance.^[5]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The Passion of Christ.^[6][7]
5. (Medieval Latin) Illness, pain.^[8]

Word family

• antepassio
• passionalis
• compassiō
• passiōlus
• passiōnātē
• passiōnātus
• satispassiō

Related words

• patior
• English passion
• English compassion

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b 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. ^ 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
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com