fidelitas Latin · revision 8396

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la fidēs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [fɪˈdeː.lɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fiˈdɛː.li.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fidēlitās''' ''f'' (genitive fidēlitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[fidēlis]] “faithful”, from [[fidēs]] “faith”, with the suffix [[-tās]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant faithfulness, loyalty, fidelity.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''fidēs'' and ''fidēlitās'' are the faithfulness a man keeps towards others, ''fidēs'' in the wider sense.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant faithfulness, fidelity, trustworthiness.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for the allegiance owed by subjects to the king and by vassals to their lord, and ''iūs fidēlitātis'' was the oath of fealty.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) British Medieval Latin used it for fidelity, as a title, and for a pledge.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''fedeltà'' and Spanish ''fieldad'', and was borrowed again as French ''fidélité'', which gave [[en|fidelity]] in the early 15th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * early 15th century – English ''fidelity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Faithfulness, loyalty, [[m|en|fidelity]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|Allegiance]], fealty.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fidēlis]]

+ * [[fidēs]]

+ * [[fīdō]]

+ * [[fīdus]]

+ * [[en|fidelity]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[fidēs]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}