malignitas Latin · revision 32306

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la malus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [maˈlɪŋ.nɪ.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [maˈliɲ.ɲi.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''malignitās''' ''f'' (genitive malignitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|malignus|-tās|t1=mean, spiteful]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists [[m|la|malignus]] among the derivatives of [[m|la|malus|t=bad]], and dates both the adjective and this noun from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) He follows Ernout and Meillet in tracing [[m|la|malus]] to [[itc-pro|*malo-]] and perhaps [[ine-pro|*mol-o-|t=bad]], comparing [[osc|mallom|t=bad]] and [[ga|mell|t=destruction]], but calls the etymology uncertain, since the comparable words are isolated in their branches.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it first, in the ''Captivi'', of stinginess: “so has he burdened all mortals with meanness towards me”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is stinginess or meanness, the grudging of what one has.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) From there it passed to ill will, spite and malice, the sense of Valerius Maximus, Seneca and Tacitus, who writes that a show of freedom clings to malice.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca the Younger also uses it of an inherent badness of nature that a man overcomes.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that Cicero and Caesar avoid it.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin uses it broadly for evil, malice and wickedness.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of meanness in the ''Captivi''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca the Younger of inborn badness of character.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of malice that passes itself off as frankness.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|stinginess|alt=Stinginess]], [[m|en|niggardliness]], meanness.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Ill will, [[m|en|spite]], [[m|en|malice]], envy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Inherent badness, [[m|en|malignancy]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Evil, wickedness, vice.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[malitia]], baseness that shows itself in lying and deceit: malignitas grudges good to another and wants it only for oneself, while [[malevolentia]] wishes evil to another.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}