Etymologically
Log in

scientificus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 04:48. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ski.ɛnˈtɪ.fɪ.kʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ʃi.enˈtiː.fi.kus][1]

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]

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