sensualis

Forms

sēnsuālis (neuter sēnsuāle, adverb sēnsuāliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin sēnsus (“sense, feeling”) + -ālis,^[1][2] from sentiō (“to perceive, feel”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD) uses it in his treatise on the soul, of what relates to the senses or is endowed with sensation.^[4][5][3]

Semantic evolution

Late Latin used it for what is endowed with feeling, sensitive;^[6] Prudentius has it in a sense Conte gives as “intellectual”,^[5] and Caelius Aurelianus uses it in medicine.^[2] The adverb sensualiter “in a sensual manner, carnally” is in Claudianus Mamertus.^[6]

Niermeyer gives the medieval senses “relating to the senses”, “material” and “sensual”.^[7] British sources add “perceptible by sense” and, in a glossary, “intelligent, learned”.^[8] For Thomas Aquinas it belongs to sensual desire, as opposed to sensibilis.^[9] English borrowed sensual in the early 15th century, first meaning “carnal”.^[10]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it of what is endowed with sensation.^[4][3]
• 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses it.^[6][5][3]
• first half of the 5th century AD – Claudianus Mamertus has the adverb sensualiter.^[6][3]
• early 15th century – English borrows sensual.^[10]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Late Latin) Relating to the senses; endowed with sensation, sensitive.^[6][4][1]
2. (Late Latin) Intellectual.^[5]
3. (Medieval Latin) Material.^[7]
4. (Medieval Latin) sensual.^[7][8]
5. (Medieval Latin) Perceptible by sense.^[8]

Word family

• insensualis
• sēnsuālitās

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b c 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
9. ^ Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com