bonitas Latin · revision 4050

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la bonus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈbɔ.nɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbɔː.ni.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bonitās''' ''f'' (genitive bonitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|bonus|-tās|t1=good]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) An Old Latin form [[m|la|duonitās]] is recorded, matching the old form [[m|la|duonus]] of ''bonus''.^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Plautus, about 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the good quality of a thing: of land and estates in Cicero and Caesar, of soil, water, wine, trees and gems, and of the voice and of words.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Lawyers used it of the quality in which a loan must be repaid, and Pliny of a second grade of a spice.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of abstract things it was the goodness of a nature or of a cause.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Most often it was goodness of character, integrity, kindness and benevolence, as in Cicero's line that nothing is so popular as kindness.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(OLD 2012) In Christian Latin it was the goodness of God and of Christ, and in medieval Latin also generosity, and, in Niermeyer, a tallage or aid paid to a lord.^(MLW)^(DMLBS)^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in [[it|bontà]], [[fr|bonté]] and [[es|bondad]].^(Wiktionary) English ''bounty'' came from Old French in the late 13th century, first as a gift freely given.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of estates and of kindness.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the quality of land.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 13th century – English ''bounty'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Good quality, [[m|en|goodness]], excellence.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Moral excellence, integrity, [[m|en|virtue]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|kindness]], [[m|en|benevolence]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The goodness of God.^(MLW)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Generosity; an aid or [[m|en|tallage]].^(MLW)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imbonitas]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bonifaciēs]]

+ * [[bonifātus]]

+ * [[bonimōris]]

+ * [[bonum]]

+ * [[bonus]]

+ * [[bonuscula]]

+ * [[en|bounty]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}