virtualis

Forms

virtuālis (neuter virtuāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is a medieval formation, from Latin virtūs + -ālis.^[2][1][3] The noun virtus meant “manliness” and then “excellence, potency, efficacy”, the sense the adjective is built on.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first record is from the 12th-century writer Isaac.^[3] Early British uses, in John of Salisbury and Gilbert of Hoyland, mean “belonging to a power or potency”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In scholastic philosophy it was the term for what exists or acts by its power rather than in bodily fact: Thomas Aquinas uses it as a synonym of potentialis,^[5] and Bacon, Peckham and Duns Scotus speak of contact and knowledge that are virtualis.^[2] It also meant having the power to produce an effect, and, less often, morally virtuous.^[2][1]

English took it over in the late 14th century as virtual, at first in the sense “effective by inherent power”.^[4]

Timeline

• 12th century – Isaac uses the word.^[3]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as virtual.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Of or relating to a power or potency; acting by power rather than in bodily form.^[2][5][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) Having the power to produce an effect, potent.^[2][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) Virtuous.^[2][1]

Related words

• English virtual

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh