scienter Latin · revision 36367

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [skiˈɛn.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ʃiˈɛn.ter]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scienter''' (comparative scientius, superlative scientissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sciēns|-ter|t1=knowing]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(DMLBS) the present participle of [[m|la|sciō|t=to know]] with the adverb suffix.^(Wiktionary)^(DMLBS) De Vaan takes the verb to be probably a back-formation from [[m|la|nesciō|t=not to know]]; it goes back to [[itc-pro|*skije/o-|t=to know]], and if the sense “know” grew out of “distinguish, decide”, to a root meaning “cut off, incise”, [[ine-pro|*skh₁-i(e/o)-]].^(de Vaan 2008) He compares [[grc|σχάω|tr=skháō|t=to slit open]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who in ''De oratore'' speaks of speaking ''scienter et perite'', “skilfully and expertly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its classical sense is skilfully, with expert knowledge.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Cicero uses the comparative of Isocrates' skill in his field and the superlative of a man explaining how a celestial sphere worked;^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Caesar uses the comparative of people who dug tunnels under a siege ramp the more skilfully because they had large iron mines,^(OLD 2012) and Nepos uses it of playing the pipes well.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ The sense knowingly, consciously, appears in Pliny the Younger's ''Panegyricus'', in an oath that calls down the anger of the gods if the speaker deceived knowingly,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) and Augustine sets it against ''ignoranter'', unknowingly.^(Georges 1913) This became the usual medieval sense:^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) British writers used it for knowingly or wittingly and also for deliberately, and John of Salisbury writes in 1160 of a man who knowingly kept silent in a tumult.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of skilful speaking.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses the comparative of skilful tunnelling.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine uses it for knowingly, against ''ignoranter''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1160 – John of Salisbury uses it for knowingly in a letter.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|skilfully|alt=Skilfully]], [[m|en|expertly]], with knowledge.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+ # [[m|en|knowingly|alt=Knowingly]], consciously.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|deliberately|alt=Deliberately]], on purpose.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sciēns]]

+ * [[scientia]]

+ * [[scientificus]]

+ * [[scientiola]]

+ * [[scīlicet]]

+ * [[sciō]]

+ * [[scīscō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}