Etymologically
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voluntas

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [wɔˈɫʊn.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [voˈlun.tas][1]

Forms

voluntās f (genitive voluntātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from the old present participle stem *welont- of volō “to want” with the suffix ⟨-(t)ās⟩; compare volēns “willing”.[1][2] Isidore says the general name of all legal instruments is ⟨voluntās⟩, because they proceed not by force but by will.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of will and of voluntāte “voluntarily”.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the faculty of will, as in Cicero's Tusculans, the wish to do something, and voluntāte or suā voluntāte “of one's own will”, contrā voluntātem “against one's wishes”.[2][5] It meant what one wishes, a wish, and especially a last will, a testament, as in Cicero.[2] It meant willingness, consent, as Terence's voluntāte with a genitive, choice as opposed to compulsion, intention, and the meaning or import of words, as in Varro.[2] It also meant inclination, disposition towards someone, and goodwill.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant will, wish, inclination, desire, a will and testament.[6] British Medieval Latin used it of volition, the act of willing.[7] It survives in Italian volontà, French volonté and Spanish voluntad.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of will.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of consent.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the faculty of will and of a last will.[2][5][4]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains it as the name of legal instruments.[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Will, the wish to do something, voluntāte, voluntarily.[2]
  2. A wish; a last will, testament.[2]
  3. Willingness, consent.[2]
  4. Free choice.[2]
  5. Intention; the meaning of words.[2]
  6. Inclination; disposition; goodwill.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  4. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ 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