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passionatus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word passionatus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1360
Ultimate origin
Latin passiō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin passio
French passion
Latin passionatus
English passionate

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [pas.si.oːˈnaː.tʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [pas.si.oˈnaː.tus][1]

Forms

passiōnātus (feminine passiōnāta, neuter passiōnātum, superlative passiōnātissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin passiō (“suffering; passion”) + -ātus.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first record to about 1360,[2] with the meaning “affected, afflicted”.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Medieval writers used it of someone afflicted or moved,[4] and of someone endowed with passions;[4] Ockham distinguishes a broad sense, having passions, from a strict one, having passions that incline against right reason.[4] In philosophy it also meant endowed with qualities or properties.[4][1] A document of 1409 cited by Du Cange uses it, after French passionné, for hostile or partisan.[5] English passionate was formed from it in the early 15th century.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 1360 – First record, for “affected, afflicted”.[2]
  • 1409 – A document cited by Du Cange uses it for “hostile”.[5]
  • early 15th century – English passionate is recorded, from Medieval Latin passionatus.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) afflicted, suffering.[4][1][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Subject to passions; passionate, driven by desire.[4][1][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) Having qualities or properties.[4][1]
  4. (Medieval Latin) hostile, partisan.[5]

Word family

  • passiōnātē

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
  5. ^ a b c 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 Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Passionatus.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/passionatus. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·