praesentia Latin · revision 4340

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Terence|origins=la praesum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praesentia''' ''f'' (genitive praesentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|praesens|-ia|t1=present]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|praesēns]] is the participle of [[praesum]] “to be before, be at hand”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Terence has a man say that desire urges many things but the other's presence prevents him.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant presence, being in the same place as another, as Cicero's advice to avoid someone's sight and presence.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In law it was presence or availability in court, and ''in praesentiā esse'' meant to be present.^(OLD 2012) It was a helpful or powerful presence, as Velleius says of Spain pacified by its commanders' presence, and Cicero speaks of the frequent appearances of the gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) ''Praesentia animī'' was presence of mind, resolution, as in Cicero's speech for Milo.^(OLD 2012) The phrase ''in praesentiam'' meant for the time being.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was also a gift, a present, and the present letter or document.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) English ''presence'' is recorded in the mid-14th century, through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of presence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''praesentia animī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 140–180 AD – Gaius defines the producing of a person in court.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''presence'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|presence]], being at hand.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Helpful or powerful presence; an appearance of a god.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''praesentia animī'' presence of mind.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''in praesentiam'' for the present.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A gift, present.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praesens|alt=praesēns]]

+ * [[en|presence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}