politice

Forms

polīticē (adverb)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin polīticus (“political, of the state”) + -ē, the adverb of that adjective.^[2][3][4] The adjective comes from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós, “civic, political”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Thomas Aquinas uses it in the Summa theologiae (1265–1273)^[4] for human nature as subject to the order of those who govern it in the state.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In William of Ockham (first half of the 14th century)^[4] and other British writers it describes rule according to a political constitution, by laws made with the subjects' consent, as opposed to despotic or purely royal rule.^[2] Polish texts of the 15th century use it for what is good or bad in the political sense.^[3]

Timeline

• 1265–1273 – Thomas Aquinas uses it in the Summa theologiae.^[5][4]
• first half of the 14th century – William of Ockham writes of ruling politice, according to law.^[2][4]
• 1424 – A Polish text says a solitary man is neither good nor bad in the political sense.^[3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. (Medieval Latin) Politically, with regard to the state.^[5][3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) According to a political constitution, by laws made with the consent of the governed.^[2]

Usage notes

A separate proper noun Polītīcē was a district of Aeolis mentioned by Pliny the Elder.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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 c d Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.