nobilitas Latin · revision 18094

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ǵneh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [noːˈbɪ.lɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [noˈbiː.li.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nōbilitās''' ''f'' (genitive nōbilitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|nōbilis|-tās|t1=well known, noble]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) [[m|la|nōbilis]], archaic ⟨gnōbilis⟩, is made from [[m|la|nōscō|t=to get to know]] with ⟨-bilis⟩;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) de Vaan derives [[m|la|nōscō]] from [[itc-pro|*gnōske-]] and [[ine-pro|*ǵnh₃-sḱé-|t=to know]], cognate with [[grc|γιγνώσκω|tr=gignṓskō]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''eam nōbilitātem āmittendam videō'', “I see that I must lose that distinction”, and ''volūī … meam nōbilitātem occultāre et genus et dīvitiās'', “I wished to hide my rank, my family and my wealth”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Nōbilitās'' is “renown, celebrity” (Terence) and “distinction”, and above all “noble rank or birth” (Plautus, Cicero), and so the nobles as a body.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976) It also means nobility of character, “excellence, heroism” (Cicero of the Decii: ''nōbilitās mortis'', “the nobility of their death”), and of things “superior quality” (Cicero of statues of the highest workmanship).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “nobility, noble birth, excellence, worth”.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin adds “a title of honour” and “a nobleman's castle”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''eam nōbilitātem āmittendam videō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of renown.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''nōbilitās mortis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|renown]], celebrity, fame.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Distinction.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Noble birth or rank; the [[m|en|nobility]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Nobleness, [[m|en|excellence]] (of character).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Superior quality (of things).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A title of honour;^(Niermeyer 1976) a nobleman's [[m|en|castle]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nōbilis]]

+ * [[nōscō]]

+ * [[ignōbilitās]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}