magnitudo Latin · revision 17958

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=ine-pro *meǵh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [maŋ.nɪˈtuː.doː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [maɲ.ɲiˈtuː.do]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''magnitūdō''' ''f'' (genitive magnitūdinis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|magnus|-tūdō]], from the adjective for “great”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) De Vaan derives [[m|la|magnus]] from [[itc-pro|*magno-]], from [[ine-pro|*m̥ǵ-no-|t=great]].^(de Vaan 2008) The root is [[m|ine-pro|*meǵh₂-|t=great]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Varro,^(de Vaan 2008) who wrote that the star of Venus changed its ''colōrem, magnitūdinem, figūram, cursum'', “colour, size, shape and course”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler cites it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Magnitūdō'' is size or extent in general, then a vast extent (of seas, regions), a great amount (of money, profit), and the strength of physical forces such as storms.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of immaterial things it is greatness of scale or importance, and of persons and peoples power, high rank, and greatness of mind or character.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Festus notes that ''mōlēs'' is often used for it.^(TLL)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “greatness, power, majesty, size”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it is a title of honour, “benevolence” and a sovereign's prerogative.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|magnitude]] meant “pre-eminence” about 1400 and “greatness of size” in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro on the changing size of the star of Venus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''maria, montēs, regiōnum magnitūdinēs'', “seas, mountains, vast stretches of country”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust speaks of the ''magnitūdō populī Rōmānī'', “the might of the Roman people”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English [[m|en|magnitude]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|size]], extent, [[m|en|magnitude]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A vast extent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Great quantity, volume.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Intensity, strength (of storms and other forces).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Greatness of scale; importance, gravity.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Power, might; high rank, dignity.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Greatness (of mind or character).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A title of honour; benevolence; prerogative.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[magnus]]

+ * [[magnitās]]

+ * [[māiestās]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}