vanitas Latin · revision 32047

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=la vānus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈwaː.nɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈvaː.ni.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vānitās''' ''f'' (genitive vānitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|vānus|-tās|t1=empty, vain]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan traces [[m|la|vānus]] to [[itc-pro|*wāno-]] or [[itc-pro|*wāsno-|alt=*wā̆sno-]], and further to [[ine-pro|*h₁weh₂-no-]] or a related form.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|ऊन|tr=ūná-|t=empty]] and [[got|𐍅𐌰𐌽𐍃|tr=wans|t=missing]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Terence,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Phormio'' has “aren't you ashamed of your lying?” – “not at all, as long as it pays”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is emptiness or illusory quality, as in Cicero's heavens where there is no chance and no emptiness, and of persons falsity or insincerity.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also want of judgement or foolishness, as in Sallust's man whose folly was no smaller than his recklessness, and especially empty pride, as in Livy's “a story equal to vanity and fable”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “vanity, emptiness, vain things, boasting, lying”,^(Stelten 1995) and British medieval writers use it of worldly pomp.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of lying.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of emptiness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of foolishness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of empty pride.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – Its descendant enters English as [[m|en|vanity]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|emptiness|alt=Emptiness]], nothingness, unreality; futility.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|falsity|alt=Falsity]], untruthfulness, deception.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|foolishness|alt=Foolishness]], want of judgement.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Empty pride, [[m|en|vanity]], [[m|en|vainglory]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vanus|alt=vānus]]

+ * [[en|vanity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}