sanus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsaː.nʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaː.nus]^[1]

Forms

sānus (feminine sāna, neuter sānum, comparative sānior, adverb sānē); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sāno-, mechanically Proto-Indo-European *seh₂-no-.^[2][1] It might come from the root *seh₂- “to tie”, as “in place, in order”, or from *sh₂- “to satisfy” of satis “enough” and Lithuanian sotus (“sated”).^[2][1] The OLD calls it doubtful.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus, whose lover would rather be sick than be healthier at another's cost.^[2][4][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant physically sound, healthy, and of things in good condition, undamaged, as Plautus' twenty minae safe and sound.^[3] Most often in comedy it meant of sound mind, sane, sensible: Plautus' sānun es? “are you mad?” is frequent.^[3][5] Of orators and style it meant sound and correct, as Cicero's sober, healthy speakers.^[3]

Döderlein says sānus is healthy as opposed to ill, salvus safe as opposed to lost.^[6] It survives in Italian sano, French sain and Spanish sano, and English sane was formed in 1721 from insane or from Latin.^[1][7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus asks sānun es? “are you in your right mind?”^[3][5][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of sound orators.^[3][4]
• early 15th century – English sanity is recorded, “health”.^[7]
• 1721 – English sane is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Healthy, physically sound.^[3]
2. In good condition, undamaged.^[3]
3. Of sound mind, sane, sensible, sober.^[3]
4. (of style) Sound, correct.^[3]

Word family

• īnsānus
• persānus
• Sānātēs
• sanifer
• sānitās
• sānō
• vēsānus
• sānābilis
• sānātiō
• sānātor
• sānātōrius
• sānē

Related words

• vērus
• salvus
• English sane
• English sanity

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes sānus and sānitās (health, as opposed to illness) from salvus and salūs (safety, existence).^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com