Etymologically
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praesentia

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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]

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