Etymologically
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sensatus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sẽːˈsaː.tʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [senˈsaː.tus][1]

Forms

sēnsātus (feminine sēnsāta, neuter sēnsātum, adverb sēnsātē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sēnsus (“sense, faculty of sensation”) + -ātus.[1][2][3] Wiktionary explains the missing ⟨u⟩ of the u-stem by the drift of such words to o-stem patterns.[1] The noun belongs to sentiō (“to sense, feel”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Conte's earliest example, meaning sensible or judicious, is from Cyprian's Testimonia.[5][6]

Semantic evolution

Firmicus Maternus uses it of clever, shrewd people, beside callidi and astuti,[2][3] and the Vulgate several times of the wise; its adverb sensate means sensibly.[2][7] Medieval Latin used it of persons, sensible and judicious, and of things, reasonable or meaningful.[8] In British sources it also meant endowed with the senses, sentient, and as a noun a sensible person.[9] English sensate (mid-15th century) is from it.[10]

Timeline

  • 3rd century AD – Cyprian uses it for sensible.[5][6]
  • 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus uses it of shrewd people.[2][6]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of the wise, with the adverb sensate.[2][6]
  • mid-15th century – English borrows it as sensat, “endowed with sense”.[10]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Late Latin) Gifted with sense; sensible, intelligent, wise.[2][3][7]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Of things: reasonable, meaningful.[8]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Endowed with the senses, sentient.[9]

Word family

  • īnsēnsātus
  • English sensate

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com