vacuitas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [waˈku.ɪ.taːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [vaˈkuː.i.tas]^[1]

Forms

vacuitās f (genitive vacuitātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vacuus (“empty”) + -tās.^[2][1] De Vaan reconstructs a Proto-Italic adjective ⟨*wako-⟩ “empty”, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁uh₂-ko-, behind vacō and ⟨vacuus⟩, with Umbrian ⟨anter.vakaze⟩ “let there be an interruption” as a cognate.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, and the OLD's earliest citations include Cicero and Vitruvius.^[4][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant an unoccupied state, emptiness, an empty space, as in Vitruvius; freedom from something undesirable, as in Cicero's vacuitās dolōris “absence of pain”; and freedom from occupation, leisure.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means vanity, emptiness.^[6] Medieval Latin used it for leisure, idleness.^[7] English vacuity (late 14th century) is from it.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of freedom from pain.^[5][4]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of empty space.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English vacuity is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Emptiness, empty space, vacuity.^[2][9]
2. Freedom (from something), absence.^[2]
3. Leisure.^[2][7]

Related words

• vacuus
• vacō
• English vacuity

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press