sanctimonia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [saːŋk.tɪˈmoː.ni.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [saŋk.tiˈmɔː.ni.a]^[1]

Forms

sānctimōnia f (genitive sānctimōniae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from sānctus “holy” with the suffix -mōnia, like ⟨ācrimōnia⟩ and ⟨parsimōnia⟩.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant holiness, sanctity, as of the gods in Cicero, and virtue, probity, innocence, as in Cicero's speech for Quinctius.^[2][5] In Gellius it meant the inviolability of an oath.^[2] Lewis & Short add moral purity and chastity.^[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for holiness, and as a form of address.^[6] Through French sanctimonie it gave English sanctimony in the 1530s, first “piety, sanctity”.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[4][5]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of an oath.^[2][4]
• 1530s – English sanctimony is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Holiness, sanctity.^[2]
2. Virtue, probity; chastity.^[2][3]
3. Inviolability (of an oath).^[2]

Word family

• sanctimonialis

Related words

• sānctus
• sanciō
• English sanctimony

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com