perpetuitas Latin · revision 33529

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la petō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''perpetuitās''' ''f'' (genitive perpetuitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The spelling ''perpetuetas'' appears on a coin of 378–383, and coins abbreviate the word.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|perpetuus|-tās|t1=continuous, permanent]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan lists [[m|la|perpetuus]], like [[m|la|perpes|t=continuous]], among the words formed from [[m|la|petō|t=to make for, seek]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of the uninterrupted continuance of someone's goodwill and of an unbroken run of words in a speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the quality of being unbroken: in space, an unbroken stretch, as in Vitruvius' ''opācae perpetuitātēs'' of tracts of land;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) in time, uninterrupted duration;^(OLD 2012) and in speech, its connected flow.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero says that philosophers should be judged by their consistency, not by single sayings, and uses ''ad perpetuitātem'', “for ever”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In medieval charters it stands for the lasting force of a grant, and in the Church for a benefice held for life; philosophical writers used it of the soul's perpetuity.^(DMLBS) Ecclesiastical Latin also used it for eternity.^(Stelten 1995) English has ''perpetuity'' from the late 14th century, from Old French ''perpetuité'' and directly from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of continuity in time and in speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses the plural of unbroken tracts of land.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 378–383 – The spelling ''perpetuetas'' on an imperial coin.^(TLL)

+ * 1232 – A Chester charter speaks of the “strength of perpetuity” of a written grant.^(DMLBS)

+ * late 14th century – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|perpetuity]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|continuity|alt=Continuity]] in space; an unbroken stretch.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Uninterrupted [[m|en|duration]]; the whole course (of a life, activity).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The connected flow of speech or writing.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|permanence|alt=Permanence]], [[m|en|perpetuity]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''ad perpetuitātem'', for ever.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Eternity.^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A perpetual benefice; a grant in perpetuity.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perpetuus]]

+ * [[perpes]]

+ * [[petō]]

+ * [[en|perpetuity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}