amentia Latin · revision 31245

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius|origins=ine-pro *mn̥-ti-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''āmentia''' ''f'' (genitive āmentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|āmēns|t=out of one's mind]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ia]]; the adjective is [[m|la|ā-|t=away from]] and [[m|la|mēns|t=mind]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨mēns⟩ from [[itc-pro|*mn̥ti-]] and [[ine-pro|*mn̥-ti-|t=thought, mind]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|मति|tr=matí-|t=thought]], [[lt|mintìs|t=thought, idea]] and [[got|𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌹𐌽𐌸𐌹|tr=gaminþi|t=memory]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Pacuvius as its first author,^(Köbler 2010) and de Vaan Terence,^(de Vaan 2008) who has “what perversity or madness is this?” in the ''Heauton timorumenos''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the state of being out of one's mind, madness;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Cicero says the ancestors called a state of mind lacking the light of reason both ''āmentia'' and ''dēmentia''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) It is also violent excitement or frenzy, as Accius' “my heart boils blind with anger, I am swept away by frenzy”, and poetic inspiration.^(OLD 2012) More loosely it is senselessness, extreme folly or infatuation, as Terence's father worried by his son's folly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “madness, insanity, mental illness”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|amentia]] “mental deficiency” was taken from it in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of madness and folly.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of frenzy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero on ''āmentia'' and ''dēmentia''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''amentia''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|madness|alt=Madness]], insanity.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|frenzy|alt=Frenzy]], violent excitement; poetic inspiration.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Senselessness, folly, infatuation.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[āmēns]]

+ * [[dēmentia]]

+ * [[dēmēns]]

+ * [[mēns]]

+ * [[īnsānia]]

+ * [[en|amentia]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes the two words: ''āmentia'' shows itself negatively, the ''āmēns'' lacking reason and either not acting or acting senselessly, while ''dēmentia'' shows itself actively.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}