aequitas Latin · revision 7327
16 Oct 2026, 13:51 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la aequus}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈae̯.kʷɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.kʷi.tas]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''aequitās''' ''f'' (genitive aequitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[aequus]] “level, equal, fair” with the suffix [[-tās]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Isidore derives ⟨aequus⟩ from ⟨aequālitās⟩, as being by nature just.^(TLL)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of equanimity and of fairness.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant evenness, flatness of ground, as in the ''Bellum Hispaniense'', and ''aequitās animī'' evenness of temper, composure, as Cicero's ''moderātiōnem animī tuī et aequitātem''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Seneca it meant due proportion, balance.^(OLD 2012) From Cicero it meant fairness, impartiality, justice, and in law equity, a principle of equity.^(OLD 2012) Personified, ''Aequitās'' was a goddess, as in Valerius Maximus, and a personified quality of the emperors.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant justice, equality, righteousness, equity, calmness.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it of equity as distinct from the common law.^(DMLBS) Through Old French ''equite'' it gave [[en|equity]] in the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of composure and of fairness.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of balance.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * early 14th century – English ''equity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Evenness, flatness.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''aequitās animī'', composure, [[m|en|equanimity]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # Balance, proportion.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Fairness, justice, ''(law)'' [[m|en|equity]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # Equity personified, a goddess.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[aequus]]
+ * [[aequālitās]]
+ * [[iūstitia]]
+ * [[en|equity]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}