Etymologically
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realitas

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 15:08. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [reˈaː.lɪ.taːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [reˈaː.li.tas][1]

Forms

reālitās f (genitive reālitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin reālis (“real”) + -tās.[1][2][3] It is the source of French réalité, Italian realtà and Spanish realidad,[1][4] and, partly through French, of English reality.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A charter of King Louis VI of France from 1120 has it in a list of rights, in the sense of “property, land”.[6] In the philosophical sense it is recorded about 1301, in the Oxford disputations (Quaestiones Oxonienses).[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In scholastic philosophy it meant the quality of being real or of actually existing, and the real nature of a thing;[2] Duns Scotus speaks of one thing having virtually two realities.[2] Ecclesiastical Latin keeps it for “reality”.[7] English took it in the 1540s, from French and directly from Medieval Latin.[5]

Timeline

  • 1120 – A charter of Louis VI uses it for property.[6]
  • c. 1301 – Oxford disputations use it for the quality of being real.[2][3]
  • 1540s – Borrowed into English as reality.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) reality, real existence; the real nature of a thing.[2][7][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) property, land.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c 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 Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson