mansuetude

WOTD - 30 January 2009    

English

Etymology

Via Middle French mansuetude or directly from Latin mansuētūdō, from mansuētus, perfect passive participle of mansuēscō (“I tame”), from manus (“hand”) + suēscō (“become accustomed”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈman.swɪ.tjuːd/
• (US) IPA: /mænˈsuət(j)ud/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

mansuetude (uncountable)

1. (archaic) Gentleness, tameness.
   • 1972, Patrick O'Brian, Post Captain:

     Quo me rapis? Quo indeed. My whole conduct, meekness, mansuetude, voluntary abasement, astonishes me.

Translations

gentleness, meekness

Catalan: mansuetud (ca) f. Italian: mansuetudine (it) f. Polish: łagodność (pl) m., delikatność (pl)

Portuguese: mansuetude (pt) f., mansidão (pt) f. Russian: добродушие (ru) n.