licentia Latin · revision 7567

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Naevius|origins=la licet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [lɪˈkɛn.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈt͡ʃɛn.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''licentia''' ''f'' (genitive licentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[licēns]] “free, unrestrained”, the present participle of [[licet]] “it is allowed”, with the suffix [[-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of freedom to do as one pleases.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant freedom to act as one pleases, permission, and a privilege, as in Plautus' play on ''licet'', and in Cicero freedom to do something, as the Academy's ''magna licentia''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) From Lucilius it meant unruly behaviour, wantonness, licence.^(OLD 2012) In the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' it meant frankness of speech, in Cicero poetic or rhetorical licence, and in Ovid freedom of fancy.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant permission, licence, a licentiate.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a marriage licence, ''licentia docendī'' the university licence to teach, leave of absence, and a dispensation.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in French ''licence'', Italian ''licenza'' and Spanish ''licencia'', and [[en|license]] is recorded about 1400.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of wantonness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of poetic licence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''license'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Freedom, permission; a [[m|en|privilege]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Unruly behaviour, [[m|en|wantonness]], licence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Frankness of speech.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Poetic or rhetorical licence; freedom of fancy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|licence]] to teach; leave of absence; a dispensation.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[licentiātus]]

+ * [[licentiōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[licēns]]

+ * [[licenter]]

+ * [[licentiōsē]]

+ * [[licet]]

+ * [[licitus]]

+ * [[en|license]]

+ * [[en|licentious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}