constans Latin · revision 7540
16 Oct 2026, 14:06 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Lucretius|origins=la stō}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkõː.stãːs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔn.stans]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''cōnstāns''' (genitive cōnstantis, comparative cōnstantior, superlative cōnstantissimus, adverb cōnstanter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is the present participle of [[cōnstō]] “to stand together, stand firm”, used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is Lucretius, whom he dates 96–55 BC, and Lucretius says honey is of a firmer nature.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant standing firm, stable, of firm consistency, as Lucretius' honey and in Horace, and in Cicero mentally settled, steady.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' it meant definite, and unchanging.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero it meant resolute, steadfast in principles, consistent, loyal, constant, and of things self-consistent.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant steady, firm, constant.^(Stelten 1995) [[en|constant]] came in the late 14th century, “steadfast”, and as a mathematical noun in 1832.^(Etymonline) As a name, ''Cōnstāns'' was borne by a son of Constantine.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of firm consistency.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 86/82 BC – The ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' uses it of the unchanging.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the steadfast.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''constant'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Standing firm, stable; firm; settled; definite.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Unchanging.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Resolute, persistent.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Consistent; loyal, [[m|en|constant]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # Self-consistent.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[constanter]]
+ * [[cōnstō]]
+ * [[cōnstantia]]
+ * [[en|constant]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}