scientificus

Forms

scientificus (feminine scientifica, neuter scientificum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin scientia (“knowledge”) + -ficus (“making”).^[1][2][3] Etymonline notes that it was first used to translate a Greek word for “making knowledge” in Aristotle's Ethics.^[2] Schütz cites it as Ancient Greek ἐπιστημονικόν (epistēmonikón).^[4] The DMLBS labels it Late Latin, and Conte calls it medieval.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot's only citation is Boethius, in the Posterior Analytics, where it means “scientific”.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Scholastic Latin used it of what produces or involves knowledge: Thomas Aquinas explains it as “making to know”, speaks of a dēmōnstrātiō scientifica, and uses scientificum for the faculty that knows necessary things, Aristotle's ἐπιστημονικόν (epistēmonikón);^[4] the DMLBS quotes Kilwardby and Duns Scotus.^[5] In grammar the indicative was called the modus scientificus.^[5] Applied to people it meant learned or skilled, and Thomas Aquinas also has it in that sense.^[5][4]

Humanist writers used it of worldly learning, sometimes with scorn: Rienzo, in a letter of 1350, writes of the scientificae disputātiōnēs that puff up their authors, and Luther mocks a “most scientific” theology.^[8] French scientifique and English scientific, first recorded in the 1580s, come from it.^[2]

Timeline

• Late Latin – Boethius uses it in the Posterior Analytics.^[7][5]
• 1220–1235 – Robert Grosseteste uses it.^[3]
• c. 1301 – An Oxford disputation asks whether grace can give a habitus scientificus.^[5]
• 1350 – Rienzo writes of scientificae disputātiōnēs.^[8]
• 1402 – An Oxford formulary calls the university once full of a learned people.^[5]
• 1580s – English scientific is recorded, through French.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Producing or involving knowledge, scientific.^[7][5][4][1]
2. (Medieval Latin, grammar) Of the mood expressing what is known, indicative.^[5]
3. (Medieval Latin) Learned, knowledgeable; skilled.^[5][4]
4. (Medieval Latin, as a noun) One engaged in learning.^[5]
5. (New Latin) Of knowledge of the world, of science.^[8][9]

Related words

• scientia
• English scientific

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
6. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson