securitas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [seːˈkuː.rɪ.taːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [seˈkuː.ri.tas]^[1]

Forms

sēcūritās f (genitive sēcūritātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin securus (“free from care”) + -tās.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero writes to Atticus that he will see a wonderful unconcern, and uses it for Democritus' calm of mind, Greek Ancient Greek εὐθυμία (euthumía).^[2][3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant freedom from anxiety, calmness, and of manner assurance, as Quintilian's unaffected style.^[2] In a bad sense it was complacent carelessness, as in Curtius.^[2][5] It also meant freedom from danger, safety, as Velleius' hope of lasting security for the empire, and immunity from punishment.^[2] Personified, Sēcūritās appears on imperial coins, and Ulpian uses it of security for a debt.^[2]

In medieval Latin it was a safe-conduct, a promise not to take revenge or do violence, and a document containing such a promise.^[6] English security is recorded in the early 15th century, and surety came through Old French seurté around 1300.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of calm of mind.^[2][4]
• c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius uses it of the security of the empire.^[2][4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of security for a debt.^[2][4]
• c. 1300 – English surety is recorded.^[7]
• early 15th century – English security is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Freedom from care, calmness, composure.^[2][3]
2. Carelessness, negligence.^[2][5]
3. Safety, security; immunity from punishment.^[2][1]
4. (capitalized) Security personified.^[2]
5. Security for a debt.^[2]
6. (Medieval Latin) A safe-conduct; a promise not to take revenge.^[6]

Related words

• English security
• English surety

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com