Etymologically
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politice

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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.