infinitas Latin · revision 10164

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la fīnis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈfiː.nɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iɱˈfiː.ni.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfīnitās''' ''f'' (genitive īnfīnitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[fīnis]] “boundary, end” with [[m|la|-tās]]; compare [[īnfīnītus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan calls the etymology of ⟨fīnis⟩ disputed, perhaps ⟨*fīg-s-ni-⟩ “driven in”, of a boundary marker.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, who speaks of ''īnfīnitās locōrum'' “boundless extent of space”.^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant limitless extent, boundlessness, infinity, and in philosophy the Infinite, as the first principle of Anaximander, both in Cicero, and Ammianus has the plural.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it for infinity.^(DMLBS) English ''infinity'' (late 14th century) is from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses the plural.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''infinity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Boundlessness, [[m|en|infinity]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' The Infinite.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[īnfīnītus]]

+ * [[fīnis]]

+ * [[en|infinity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}