sapientia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sa.piˈɛn.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sa.piˈɛn.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

sapientia f (genitive sapientiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sapiēns (“wise”) + -ia, from sapiō (“to taste, be wise”).^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨sapiō⟩ to Proto-Italic *sap-i-, Proto-Indo-European *sh₁p-i- (“to notice”), with Oscan ⟨sipus⟩ “knowing” and Old Saxon ansebbian (“to notice”) as cognates, though the root vowel is uncertain.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for wisdom is Ennius.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant soundness of judgement, good sense, wisdom, as in Ennius, and in Cicero wisdom as the aim of philosophers, translating Ancient Greek σοφία (sophía), and Pliny uses it of reason, soundness of mind.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means wisdom, prudence, and Sapientia is the Book of Wisdom, translating the Septuagint's Σοφία.^[6][1] English sapience (late 14th century), Italian sapienza and Romanian sapiență are from it.^[7][1]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of wisdom.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of philosophical wisdom.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English sapience is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Reason, soundness of mind.^[2]
2. Good judgement, wisdom, prudence.^[2][8]
3. Wisdom as the goal of philosophy.^[2]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The Book of Wisdom.^[6]

Word family

• sapientialis
• sapientipotens

Related words

• sapiēns
• sapienter
• sapiō
• sapor
• English sapience

Usage notes

Isidore of Seville explains Sapientia as a name of the Son of God, who reveals the mysteries of knowledge.^[9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
9. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).