humanitas Latin · revision 6510

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Rhetorica ad Herennium|origins=la hūmānus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''hūmānitās''' ''f'' (genitive hūmānitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[hūmānus]] “human” with the suffix [[-tās]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Wiktionary says Cicero coined it as a calque of [[grc|φιλανθρωπία|tr=philanthrōpía]], but the Rhetorica ad Herennium already has it.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is the Rhetorica ad Herennium, which speaks of clemency, humanity and pity.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant human nature or character, as Cicero's ''vīs hūmānitātis'' “the force of human feeling”, and the quality that distinguishes the civilized from savages, culture, refinement, as Caesar's Belgae farthest from the culture of the province.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also meant humane character, kindness, human feeling, as in Cicero and Caesar.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short say it is used mostly by Cicero.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein describes it as a universal virtue that ennobles mind and heart and gives mildness and kindness.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Christian and Medieval Latin it meant mankind, the human nature assumed by Christ, and also provisions, a livelihood, and spiritual consolation.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) It survives in Spanish ''humanidad'' and Italian ''umanità''.^(Wiktionary) Through Old French it is the source of [[en|humanity]] in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of kindness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of human nature and culture.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of civilization.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''humanity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Human nature, [[m|en|humanity]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Civilization, [[m|en|culture]], refinement.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Kindness]], humane feeling.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Mankind; the human nature of Christ.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hūmānus]]

+ * [[homō]]

+ * [[en|humanity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}