maiestas Latin · revision 8341
16 Oct 2026, 16:02 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la magnus}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [majˈjɛs.taːs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [maˈjɛs.tas]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''maiestās''' ''f'' (genitive maiestātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from ⟨maies-⟩, the stem of [[māior]] “greater”, with the suffix [[-tās]], continuing Proto-Italic ⟨*magjes⟩, perhaps influenced by [[honestās]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of the majesty of the gods.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant the dignity of a god or an exalted person, majesty, as in Cicero, and in the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' the majesty of the people or state, sovereignty.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In Cicero, short for ''māiestās laesa'' or ''imminūta'', it meant high treason, and in Lucretius and Livy grandeur of things and of appearance.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ Medieval Latin used it as a title of honour for an emperor, king or pope, for sovereignty, for an image of Christ enthroned, and for a reliquary.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin used it for authority, dignity, and worldly might.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''maestà'', French ''majesté'' and Spanish ''majestad'', and through Old French it gave [[en|majesty]] about 1300.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 86/82 BC – The ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' uses it of the state's sovereignty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the gods and of treason.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 1300 – English ''majesty'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # [[m|en|Majesty]], dignity.^(OLD 2012)
+ # The majesty of the people, [[m|en|sovereignty]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # [[m|en|Treason]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # Grandeur.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A royal title; an image of Christ enthroned; a reliquary.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[māiestus]]
+ * [[maiestātīvus]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[māior]]
+ * [[magnus]]
+ * [[en|majesty]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}