malitia Latin · revision 31430

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''malitia''' ''f'' (genitive malitiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|malus|t=bad]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan, following Ernout and Meillet, tentatively traces ⟨malus⟩ to [[itc-pro|*malo-]] and [[ine-pro|*mol-o-|t=bad]], comparing [[osc|mallom|t=bad]], [[sga|mell|t=destruction]], [[grc|μέλεος|tr=méleos|t=idle, unhappy]] and [[lt|mẽlas|t=lie]]; since these words are isolated in their branches, he finds it uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has “I have always thought you a citizen without any vice” in the ''Aulularia'';^(OLD 2012) Köbler gives Ennius.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is wicked character, disposition or conduct, and a single vice or fault, and in the jurist Celsus a malicious act.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero preferred ''vitiōsitās'' to it for the opposite of virtue, and defined it as the crafty and deceitful art of doing harm.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) It is ill will, spite and malice, and also cunning or artfulness; in late writers such as Palladius it is the bad quality of a thing, as poor soil or an unfruitful tree.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “malice, spite, ill will, cunning, evil”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it also meant misfortune or affliction, of sin or sinfulness, and of a crime.^(Niermeyer 1976) Döderlein separates it, the baseness of lying and deceit, from ''malignitās'', which grudges others their good, and ''malevolentia'', ill will.^(Döderlein 1874) English ''malice'' (about 1300) comes from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero defines it as crafty harm.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English [[m|en|malice]] comes from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|wickedness|alt=Wickedness]], bad character; a vice, fault.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Ill will, spite, [[m|en|malice]]; a malicious act.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Cunning, artfulness.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' Bad quality, badness (of soil, a tree).^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Misfortune, affliction; sin; a crime.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[malitiōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[malitās]]

+ * [[malitiōsē]]

+ * [[malitiōsitās]]

+ * [[malus]]

+ * [[malignitās]]

+ * [[malevolentia]]

+ * [[en|malice]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}