infidelitas Latin · revision 36468

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfidēlitās''' ''f'' (genitive īnfidēlitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|īnfidēlis|-tās|t1=unfaithful]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Ancient grammarians described it as formed from the dative singular of the adjective.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of the faithlessness of friendships and asks ''quantae īnfidēlitātēs in amīcitiīs'', “how much faithlessness there is in friendships”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means faithlessness or inconstancy;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) the TLL finds it in Cicero, Plancus, Caesar and Hirtius, and Cicero uses the plural.^(TLL) Caesar has someone bear the suspicion of disloyalty.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Christian Latin it is lack of faith, unbelief.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for disloyalty, an act of treason, and the breaking of a promise or oath.^(Niermeyer 1976) English took [[m|en|infidelity]] about 1400 for unbelief, from French or Latin, and in the early 15th century for disloyalty to a person.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the faithlessness of friends.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it for a suspicion of disloyalty.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English borrows it as [[m|en|infidelity]], first for unbelief.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|faithlessness|alt=Faithlessness]], unfaithfulness, [[m|en|inconstancy]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Lack of faith, [[m|en|unbelief]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|disloyalty|alt=Disloyalty]], breach of faith, [[m|en|treason]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Breach of a promise or oath.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|infidelity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}