dignitas Latin · revision 4529

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdiɲ.ɲi.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dignitās''' ''f'' (genitive dignitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dignus|-tās|t1=worthy]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) Etymonline traces [[m|la|dignus]] to [[ine-pro|*dek-no-]], from [[m|ine-pro|*dek-|t=to take, accept]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, in the Bacchides, has a cook prepare food fit for the worth of the provisions.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first senses were fitness for a task and worthiness or merit, as Cicero speaks of equal worthiness to stand for the consulship.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It then meant rank or status, as ''gradus dignitātis'', and standing, esteem or importance, the public prestige of a Roman statesman.^(OLD 2012) In style and appearance it meant stateliness, dignity.^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016) Metonymically it could name a person of high rank, a dignitary.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a high office, and also the whole of a lord's rights and possessions.^(Niermeyer 1976) British writers used it of dignity, stateliness and as a title of address.^(DMLBS) [[en|dignity]] is recorded around 1200, and [[en|dainty]] goes back through Anglo-French ''deintie'' “value, delicacy” to the same Latin word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of worth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rank and merit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''dignity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-13th century – Middle English ''deinte'', the source of ''dainty'', is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Fitness, worthiness, merit.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Excellence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Rank, status.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Standing, esteem, [[m|en|prestige]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Dignity]], stateliness.^(Wiktionary)^(DMLBS)

+ # A person of rank, [[m|en|dignitary]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A high office; a lord's domain and rights.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dignitōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dignus]]

+ * [[en|dignity]]

+ * [[en|dainty]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}