Etymologically
Log in

sanus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 03:22. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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

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