Etymologically
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probitas

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈprɔ.bɪ.taːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɔː.bi.tas][1]

Forms

probitās f (genitive probitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin probus (“good, upright”) + -tās.[2][1][3] The adjective probus goes back to Proto-Italic *profwos (“favourable”) and Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰh₂u-o-.[4] Cognate with Umbrian prufe (“correct”) and Sanskrit प्रभु (prabhú-, “excellent”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Pacuvius,[5] who urges people to preserve concord by honesty.[2]

Semantic evolution

It is moral integrity, uprightness or honesty, which Cicero names with virtue and integrity as what is looked for in a candidate.[2][6] Ovid uses it of chastity, and Quintilian of a decorous modesty that is really weakness.[2] Columella applies it to things, the good quality of bread and drink.[2]

In medieval texts it also means a chivalrous exploit.[7] Church Latin glosses it “integrity, goodness”.[8]

Timeline

  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of honesty.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of the qualities of a candidate.[6][5]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of chastity.[2][5]
  • 1st century AD – Columella of the quality of bread.[2][5]
  • early 15th century – Borrowed into English as probity, through Old French.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Honesty, integrity, probity; chastity; modesty.[2][6][1]
  2. Of things, excellence, quality.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A chivalrous exploit, prowess.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com