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personalis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word personalis

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Pseudo-Quintilian
Ultimate origin
Latin (persōna)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɛr.soːˈnaː.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [per.soˈnaː.lis][1]

Forms

persōnālis (neuter persōnāle, adverb persōnāliter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from persōna “mask, person” with the suffix -ālis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Declamations ascribed to Quintilian, perhaps of the 2nd century AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant of an individual, personal.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant personal, of a person.[5] Medieval Latin used it for personal, prominent, of note, and in a law of presentation.[6] British Medieval Latin used it of acts done in person and of personal law.[7] It survives in Italian personale and Spanish personal, and through Old French it gave English personal in the late 14th century, and French personnel gave English personnel in 1837.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 2nd century AD? – The pseudo-Quintilian Declamations use it.[4]
  • late 14th century – English personal is recorded.[3]
  • 1837 – English personnel is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of an individual, personal.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Of note, prominent.[6]

Word family

  • impersōnālis

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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Personalis.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/personalis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·