firmitas Latin · revision 32004

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈfɪr.mɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈfir.mi.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''firmitās''' ''f'' (genitive firmitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|firmus|-tās|t1=firm, strong]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|firmus]] to [[itc-pro|*fermo-]] and [[ine-pro|*dʰer-mo-|t=holding]], from the root “to hold”; the ⟨i⟩ may come from ⟨e⟩ raised after a labial.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[lt|darýti|t=to do]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has “look at the door-posts, how strongly and how thickly they are made”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is the strength or stoutness of things, then the robustness of a body, and military or political strength, as in Cicero's letters.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses it of stability or resistance to change, and of the mind it is steadfastness or resolution, as Cicero's “such firmness of mind towards the state”.^(OLD 2012) Of troops it is steadiness, as Plancus' army “large in number but slight in reliability”, and in Ulpian it is legal validity.^(OLD 2012) In Medieval Latin it means support or backing, a sworn safeguard against hostile acts, and a pact or peace treaty.^(Niermeyer 1976) Köbler records it in early medieval law codes and charters.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of strongly made door-posts.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of bodily vigour and of firmness of mind.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of the hardiness of vines.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 223 AD – Ulpian of legal validity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|strength|alt=Strength]], stoutness, [[m|en|firmness]]; bodily vigour; military or political strength.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|stability|alt=Stability]], resistance to change.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Steadfastness, resolution, [[m|en|constancy]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of troops, steadiness; of memory, reliability.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' [[m|en|validity|alt=Validity]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Support; a sworn safeguard; a pact or peace treaty.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[firmāmen]]

+ * [[firmāmentum]]

+ * [[firmātor]]

+ * [[firmē]]

+ * [[firmiter]]

+ * [[firmitūdō]]

+ * [[firmō]]

+ * [[firmus]]

+ * [[infirmitas|alt=īnfirmitās]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}