utilitas Latin · revision 7211

16 Oct 2026, 13:19 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la ūtor}}
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''ūtilitās''' ''f'' (genitive ūtilitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[ūtilis]] “useful” with the suffix [[-tās]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ⟨Ūtilis⟩ is from [[ūtor]] “to use”.^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) The genitive plural is usually ⟨ūtilitātum⟩, but Livy and Ulpian have ⟨ūtilitātium⟩.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of usefulness.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant usefulness, advantage, and with a genitive someone's interest or benefit, as Cicero's ''nihil ad ūtilitātem suam referre'' “to refer nothing to his own interest”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant the consideration of what is advantageous, expediency, as in Cicero, and in Quintilian practical convenience rather than strict law.^(OLD 2012) In Ulpian it meant the profit from a thing and legal validity.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant profit, benefit, advantage, usefulness.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it of a person's ability, as a form of address, and of business or service.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[en|utility]] came in the late 14th century through Old French ''utilite''.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of usefulness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of interest and expediency.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of practical convenience.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''utility'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Usefulness, [[m|en|utility]]; someone's interest, advantage.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Profit from a thing.^(OLD 2012)
+ # [[m|en|Expediency]]; practical convenience.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(law)'' Validity.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Ability; business, service.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[ūtilis]]
+ * [[ūtor]]
+ * [[en|utility]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}