segnitia Latin · revision 32971

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sēgnitia''' ''f'' (genitive sēgnitiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A fifth-declension form ''sēgnitiēs'', ''-ēī'' is less frequent.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sēgnis|-itia|t1=slow, sluggish]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*sēk/g-ni-]] for the adjective, an adjective in ⟨*-ni-⟩ like [[lenis|alt=lēnis]]; its root may be that of [[grc|ἦκα|tr=êka|t=slightly, softly]], but the connection is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD's first quotation is Terence's there is no room for sloth or idleness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is disinclination to act or exert oneself, sloth, slowness or dilatoriness: Tacitus writes that what was sloth was called wisdom.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca uses it of physical inertia, a nerveless sluggishness and weariness without toil, and a declamation of the weakness of an expression.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein counts it, with ''dēsidia'', ''socordia'' and ''pigritia'', among the faults of too easy a temper: ''sēgnitia'' needs rousing or compulsion before it gives up its ease, and is the opposite of ''promptus''.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it slowness or sluggishness.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of no room for sloth.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the word.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of physical sluggishness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of sloth called wisdom.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Disinclination to act, [[m|en|sloth]], [[m|en|inertia]], dilatoriness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Physical [[m|en|sluggishness]]; feebleness (of an expression).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sēgnitiēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[segnis|alt=sēgnis]]

+ * [[desidia|alt=dēsidia]]

+ * [[socordia|alt=sōcordia]]

+ * [[pigritia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}