Etymologically
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sensatio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 15:08. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sẽːˈsaː.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [senˈsat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

sēnsātiō f (genitive sēnsātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sēnsus (“sense, feeling”) + -ātiō, perhaps formed on the adjective sēnsātus (“endowed with sense”).[1][2][3] It is the source of French sensation and Italian sensazione,[1][4] and partly through French of English sensation.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in the old Latin translation of Irenaeus,[4][5][2] where it renders the Greek word for thought: haec autem enthȳmēsis … velut probāta, sēnsātiō nōminātur, “this reflection, once it has as it were been tested, is called sensatio”.[5]

Semantic evolution

In the translation of Irenaeus it means understanding, thought or knowledge, and once perhaps “form”.[4][5] Scholastic philosophy used it for sense perception: Thomas Aquinas has it for knowledge through the senses,[6] and British writers list sēnsātiō with imagination, judgement and memory among the acts of the senses.[7] English borrowed it in the 1610s for a reaction of the sense organs to a stimulus.[3]

Timeline

  • 4th century AD (?) – The Latin translation of Irenaeus uses it for thought and understanding.[2][4][5]
  • 1610s – Borrowed into English as sensation.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Late Latin) understanding, intelligence, knowledge; thought.[1][5][4]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Sense perception, sensation.[7][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c d e du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  6. ^ a b Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
  7. ^ a b 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