laetitia Latin · revision 30784

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la laetus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫae̯ˈtɪ.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [leˈtit.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laetitia''' ''f'' (genitive laetitiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|laetus|-itia|t1=glad, joyful]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Etymonline) The origin of [[m|la|laetus]] is unknown: Walde, Hofmann and Pokorny took “fat, rich” as its first sense and linked it with [[m|la|lārdum|t=bacon]] and [[m|la|largus|t=generous]], a reconstruction de Vaan calls very artificial.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Isidore explained the spelling with a diphthong by deriving the word from [[m|la|lātitūdō|t=breadth]].^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has ''iste pariet laetitiam labōs'', “that labour will bring forth joy”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Laetitia'' is joy, gladness, delight, especially joy that shows itself openly, Cicero defines it as the fresh belief in a present good that makes one feel elated.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Like ''laetus'', it is also used of land and plants, “fertility, luxuriance” (Columella), and in Tacitus of a florid, ornate style.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''gaudēre'', joy as an inner state, with ''laetārī'', joy expressed outwardly.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it “gladness, happiness, delight”.^(Stelten 1995) The English name [[m|en|Letitia]] comes from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''iste pariet laetitiam labōs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero defines ''laetitia''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella of the fertility of the soil.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of a florid style.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|joy]], gladness, [[m|en|delight]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Fertility (of land), luxuriance (of plants).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Floridity (of style).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[laetus]]

+ * [[laetor]]

+ * [[gaudium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}