praesentia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [prae̯ˈsɛn.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [preˈs̬ɛn.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

praesentia f (genitive praesentiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin praesens (“present”) + -ia.^[2][1] praesēns is the participle of praesum “to be before, be at hand”.^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Terence has a man say that desire urges many things but the other's presence prevents him.^[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant presence, being in the same place as another, as Cicero's advice to avoid someone's sight and presence.^[2][5] In law it was presence or availability in court, and in praesentiā esse meant to be present.^[2] It was a helpful or powerful presence, as Velleius says of Spain pacified by its commanders' presence, and Cicero speaks of the frequent appearances of the gods.^[2][6] Praesentia animī was presence of mind, resolution, as in Cicero's speech for Milo.^[2] The phrase in praesentiam meant for the time being.^[2]

In medieval Latin it was also a gift, a present, and the present letter or document.^[7][4] English presence is recorded in the mid-14th century, through Old French.^[8]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of presence.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses praesentia animī.^[2][4]
• 140–180 AD – Gaius defines the producing of a person in court.^[2][4]
• mid-14th century – English presence is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. presence, being at hand.^[2][3]
2. Helpful or powerful presence; an appearance of a god.^[2][6]
3. praesentia animī presence of mind.^[2]
4. in praesentiam for the present.^[2][1]
5. (Medieval Latin) A gift, present.^[7]

Related words

• praesēns
• English presence

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com