Etymologically
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prioritas

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [priˈoː.rɪ.taːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [priˈɔː.ri.tas][1]

Forms

priōritās f (genitive priōritātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prior (“former, earlier”) + -tās,[1][2][3] a medieval formation.[2] De Vaan traces the adjective to Proto-Italic *prī̆-jos- (“earlier, former”), from Proto-Indo-European *pr(e)i (“before”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Among the DMLBS's first quotations, Blund and Neckam use it of priority in time; its first dated one, from 1253, speaks of the “priority” of a castle's capture.[2]

Semantic evolution

Scholastic writers used it beside posterioritas for being earlier in time or order.[2][5] From priority in time it came to mean precedence in rank or dignity, and in monasteries the office of a prior.[2][1] It could also stand for the ancestors as a group,[2][6] and once for the chief part of an inheritance.[2] Niermeyer glosses it “priority, precedence”.[7] English priority, from the late 14th century, comes from Old French and directly from the medieval Latin word.[8]

Timeline

  • 1253 – A letter speaks of the priority of a castle's capture.[2]
  • 1272 – It names the office of a prior.[2]
  • 1282 – A royal letter uses it of ancestors as a group.[2]
  • 1340 – It is used of precedence in rank.[2]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as priority.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Being earlier in time, priority.[2][7][1]
  2. Precedence in rank or dignity.[2][1]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The office of a prior, priorship.[2][1]
  4. Ancestors as a group.[2][6]
  5. The chief part of something.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  6. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  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