dementia Latin · revision 31316

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēmentia''' ''f'' (genitive dēmentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|dēmēns|t=out of one's mind]] with [[m|la|-ia]];^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) the adjective is [[m|la|dē-|t=away from]] and [[m|la|mēns|t=mind]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Etymonline) De Vaan derives ⟨mēns⟩ from [[itc-pro|*mn̥ti-]] and [[ine-pro|*mn-ti-|t=thought, mind]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|मति|tr=matí|t=thought]] and [[lt|mintìs|t=thought]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has Mercury say “I'll fill them with error and madness” in the ''Amphitruo'';^(OLD 2012) Köbler gives Cicero as its first author.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is derangement of mind, madness or insanity, and more loosely craziness or folly, as Terence's “such manners! such folly!”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero says the ancestors called a state of mind without the light of reason ''āmentia'' and also ''dēmentia''.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “madness, insanity, foolishness”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''dementia'' was taken from it in 1806 for a low state of mental function.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of error and madness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

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

+ * 1806 – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|dementia]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # Craziness, [[m|en|folly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēmentō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dēmēns]]

+ * [[āmentia]]

+ * [[īnsānia]]

+ * [[furor]]

+ * [[en|dementia]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts ''āmentia'', a passive lack of reason like an idiot's, with ''dēmentia'', in which a person acts against reason while thinking to act rightly, like a madman; hence ''āmēns metū'' but ''dēmēns scelere''.^(Döderlein 1874) Isidore says ''dēmentia'' is a passing failing.^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}