constantia Latin · revision 8451

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la stō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cōnstantia''' ''f'' (genitive cōnstantiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[cōnstāns]] “steady”, the participle of [[cōnstō]] “to stand firm”, with the suffix [[-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of steadiness.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant changelessness, steadiness, regularity, and steadfastness of conduct, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero it also meant firmness of purpose, resolution, firmness of character, constancy, and consistency in opinions or statements.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant firmness, constancy.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for firmness of character, as a title and as a personal name.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''costanza'', French ''constance'' and Spanish ''constancia'', and [[en|constancy]] is recorded from the 1520s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of steadiness and constancy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1520s – English ''constancy'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Steadiness, regularity.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Steadfastness, persistence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Firmness of purpose, resolution.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Firmness of character, [[m|en|constancy]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Consistency]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cōnstō]]

+ * [[cōnstāns]]

+ * [[en|constancy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}