What is the meaning of “gravitas”?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
Clearly the reintroduction of a Latin word, with a 20th-century sense, the earliest reference in the OED is from 1924. The full range of examples the OED gives are as follows:
1924 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 Oct. 313 He never sheds a certain
Roman gravitas.
1958 Spectator 30 May 698/2 A certain gravitas in the atmosphere
of the Scottish universities.
1961 Times 2 Aug. 11/6 Its leading articles, and even its news
coverage, will have a superb Victorian gravitas.
1961 Listener 30 Nov. 901/2 As for the Prime Minister [of
Nigeria], to see him at close quarters is to recognize the true
gravitas of the statesman.
1969 Listener 20 Mar. 376/2 Gravitas, the heavy tread of moral
earnestness, becomes a bore if it is not accompanied by the light step
of intelligence.
Whilst the OED notes its etymology by way of a simple link to gravity, it does not provide a definition of its meaning, nor its linkage to the Latin gravitas. The OED's abbreviated two-volume "Shorter" (1990) edition gives the meaning as:
Solemn demeanour, seriousness.
However its everyday use, as exemplified in the OED, as well as one's own experience, suggest a wider sense. A person with "gravitas", I would propose carries things like "respect", "importance", "dignity", "influence" etc. as well as the OED's "solemnity".
Interestingly, the Oxford Hachette, provides the French equivalent as envergure, which is related to "wingspan" and "large scale". This would seem to me to incorporate further ideas inherent in the way gravitas is used today.
Could anyone express a succinct interpretation of gravitas in a few words?
meaning
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
|
show 2 more comments
Clearly the reintroduction of a Latin word, with a 20th-century sense, the earliest reference in the OED is from 1924. The full range of examples the OED gives are as follows:
1924 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 Oct. 313 He never sheds a certain
Roman gravitas.
1958 Spectator 30 May 698/2 A certain gravitas in the atmosphere
of the Scottish universities.
1961 Times 2 Aug. 11/6 Its leading articles, and even its news
coverage, will have a superb Victorian gravitas.
1961 Listener 30 Nov. 901/2 As for the Prime Minister [of
Nigeria], to see him at close quarters is to recognize the true
gravitas of the statesman.
1969 Listener 20 Mar. 376/2 Gravitas, the heavy tread of moral
earnestness, becomes a bore if it is not accompanied by the light step
of intelligence.
Whilst the OED notes its etymology by way of a simple link to gravity, it does not provide a definition of its meaning, nor its linkage to the Latin gravitas. The OED's abbreviated two-volume "Shorter" (1990) edition gives the meaning as:
Solemn demeanour, seriousness.
However its everyday use, as exemplified in the OED, as well as one's own experience, suggest a wider sense. A person with "gravitas", I would propose carries things like "respect", "importance", "dignity", "influence" etc. as well as the OED's "solemnity".
Interestingly, the Oxford Hachette, provides the French equivalent as envergure, which is related to "wingspan" and "large scale". This would seem to me to incorporate further ideas inherent in the way gravitas is used today.
Could anyone express a succinct interpretation of gravitas in a few words?
meaning
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
1
Other dictionaries are available, for example Cambridge.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 27 at 9:20
2
@AndrewLeach It adds a little to the Shorter OED, but not much. My guess is that the person who coined gravitas had in mind the idea of "attraction". A politician, for example, who possesses gravitas hold's not only the public's trust but their attention.
– WS2
Mar 27 at 9:23
1
Among some ancient Romans, the 3 characteristics of a great man were "Pietas", "Gravitas" and "Virtus". (also "Digntas" by some)...no short definitions can be had of these characteristics. The term "gravitas" is used in English today, I think, with a certain amount of caprice and may be confused with "gravity" at times (I would think by those who no nothing of the origins of the word). With no Academy to stop a misuse, this will continue. Wikipedia is suspect but this is good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitas
– J. Taylor
Mar 27 at 9:52
Gravitas and gravity are very closely related. The adjective grave is related to them too.
– Lucian Sava
Mar 27 at 10:27
1
Remember that the word "gravity" (or, rather, it's Greek/Latin predecessors) was likely invented before the physics concept of gravity was formally defined.
– Hot Licks
Mar 27 at 12:00
|
show 2 more comments
Clearly the reintroduction of a Latin word, with a 20th-century sense, the earliest reference in the OED is from 1924. The full range of examples the OED gives are as follows:
1924 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 Oct. 313 He never sheds a certain
Roman gravitas.
1958 Spectator 30 May 698/2 A certain gravitas in the atmosphere
of the Scottish universities.
1961 Times 2 Aug. 11/6 Its leading articles, and even its news
coverage, will have a superb Victorian gravitas.
1961 Listener 30 Nov. 901/2 As for the Prime Minister [of
Nigeria], to see him at close quarters is to recognize the true
gravitas of the statesman.
1969 Listener 20 Mar. 376/2 Gravitas, the heavy tread of moral
earnestness, becomes a bore if it is not accompanied by the light step
of intelligence.
Whilst the OED notes its etymology by way of a simple link to gravity, it does not provide a definition of its meaning, nor its linkage to the Latin gravitas. The OED's abbreviated two-volume "Shorter" (1990) edition gives the meaning as:
Solemn demeanour, seriousness.
However its everyday use, as exemplified in the OED, as well as one's own experience, suggest a wider sense. A person with "gravitas", I would propose carries things like "respect", "importance", "dignity", "influence" etc. as well as the OED's "solemnity".
Interestingly, the Oxford Hachette, provides the French equivalent as envergure, which is related to "wingspan" and "large scale". This would seem to me to incorporate further ideas inherent in the way gravitas is used today.
Could anyone express a succinct interpretation of gravitas in a few words?
meaning
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
Clearly the reintroduction of a Latin word, with a 20th-century sense, the earliest reference in the OED is from 1924. The full range of examples the OED gives are as follows:
1924 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 Oct. 313 He never sheds a certain
Roman gravitas.
1958 Spectator 30 May 698/2 A certain gravitas in the atmosphere
of the Scottish universities.
1961 Times 2 Aug. 11/6 Its leading articles, and even its news
coverage, will have a superb Victorian gravitas.
1961 Listener 30 Nov. 901/2 As for the Prime Minister [of
Nigeria], to see him at close quarters is to recognize the true
gravitas of the statesman.
1969 Listener 20 Mar. 376/2 Gravitas, the heavy tread of moral
earnestness, becomes a bore if it is not accompanied by the light step
of intelligence.
Whilst the OED notes its etymology by way of a simple link to gravity, it does not provide a definition of its meaning, nor its linkage to the Latin gravitas. The OED's abbreviated two-volume "Shorter" (1990) edition gives the meaning as:
Solemn demeanour, seriousness.
However its everyday use, as exemplified in the OED, as well as one's own experience, suggest a wider sense. A person with "gravitas", I would propose carries things like "respect", "importance", "dignity", "influence" etc. as well as the OED's "solemnity".
Interestingly, the Oxford Hachette, provides the French equivalent as envergure, which is related to "wingspan" and "large scale". This would seem to me to incorporate further ideas inherent in the way gravitas is used today.
Could anyone express a succinct interpretation of gravitas in a few words?
meaning
meaning
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
edited Mar 28 at 13:34
WS2
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
asked Mar 27 at 9:18
WS2WS2
52.4k28117252
52.4k28117252
1
Other dictionaries are available, for example Cambridge.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 27 at 9:20
2
@AndrewLeach It adds a little to the Shorter OED, but not much. My guess is that the person who coined gravitas had in mind the idea of "attraction". A politician, for example, who possesses gravitas hold's not only the public's trust but their attention.
– WS2
Mar 27 at 9:23
1
Among some ancient Romans, the 3 characteristics of a great man were "Pietas", "Gravitas" and "Virtus". (also "Digntas" by some)...no short definitions can be had of these characteristics. The term "gravitas" is used in English today, I think, with a certain amount of caprice and may be confused with "gravity" at times (I would think by those who no nothing of the origins of the word). With no Academy to stop a misuse, this will continue. Wikipedia is suspect but this is good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitas
– J. Taylor
Mar 27 at 9:52
Gravitas and gravity are very closely related. The adjective grave is related to them too.
– Lucian Sava
Mar 27 at 10:27
1
Remember that the word "gravity" (or, rather, it's Greek/Latin predecessors) was likely invented before the physics concept of gravity was formally defined.
– Hot Licks
Mar 27 at 12:00
|
show 2 more comments
1
Other dictionaries are available, for example Cambridge.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 27 at 9:20
2
@AndrewLeach It adds a little to the Shorter OED, but not much. My guess is that the person who coined gravitas had in mind the idea of "attraction". A politician, for example, who possesses gravitas hold's not only the public's trust but their attention.
– WS2
Mar 27 at 9:23
1
Among some ancient Romans, the 3 characteristics of a great man were "Pietas", "Gravitas" and "Virtus". (also "Digntas" by some)...no short definitions can be had of these characteristics. The term "gravitas" is used in English today, I think, with a certain amount of caprice and may be confused with "gravity" at times (I would think by those who no nothing of the origins of the word). With no Academy to stop a misuse, this will continue. Wikipedia is suspect but this is good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitas
– J. Taylor
Mar 27 at 9:52
Gravitas and gravity are very closely related. The adjective grave is related to them too.
– Lucian Sava
Mar 27 at 10:27
1
Remember that the word "gravity" (or, rather, it's Greek/Latin predecessors) was likely invented before the physics concept of gravity was formally defined.
– Hot Licks
Mar 27 at 12:00
1
1
Other dictionaries are available, for example Cambridge.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 27 at 9:20
Other dictionaries are available, for example Cambridge.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 27 at 9:20
2
2
@AndrewLeach It adds a little to the Shorter OED, but not much. My guess is that the person who coined gravitas had in mind the idea of "attraction". A politician, for example, who possesses gravitas hold's not only the public's trust but their attention.
– WS2
Mar 27 at 9:23
@AndrewLeach It adds a little to the Shorter OED, but not much. My guess is that the person who coined gravitas had in mind the idea of "attraction". A politician, for example, who possesses gravitas hold's not only the public's trust but their attention.
– WS2
Mar 27 at 9:23
1
1
Among some ancient Romans, the 3 characteristics of a great man were "Pietas", "Gravitas" and "Virtus". (also "Digntas" by some)...no short definitions can be had of these characteristics. The term "gravitas" is used in English today, I think, with a certain amount of caprice and may be confused with "gravity" at times (I would think by those who no nothing of the origins of the word). With no Academy to stop a misuse, this will continue. Wikipedia is suspect but this is good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitas
– J. Taylor
Mar 27 at 9:52
Among some ancient Romans, the 3 characteristics of a great man were "Pietas", "Gravitas" and "Virtus". (also "Digntas" by some)...no short definitions can be had of these characteristics. The term "gravitas" is used in English today, I think, with a certain amount of caprice and may be confused with "gravity" at times (I would think by those who no nothing of the origins of the word). With no Academy to stop a misuse, this will continue. Wikipedia is suspect but this is good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitas
– J. Taylor
Mar 27 at 9:52
Gravitas and gravity are very closely related. The adjective grave is related to them too.
– Lucian Sava
Mar 27 at 10:27
Gravitas and gravity are very closely related. The adjective grave is related to them too.
– Lucian Sava
Mar 27 at 10:27
1
1
Remember that the word "gravity" (or, rather, it's Greek/Latin predecessors) was likely invented before the physics concept of gravity was formally defined.
– Hot Licks
Mar 27 at 12:00
Remember that the word "gravity" (or, rather, it's Greek/Latin predecessors) was likely invented before the physics concept of gravity was formally defined.
– Hot Licks
Mar 27 at 12:00
|
show 2 more comments
0
active
oldest
votes
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f491549%2fwhat-is-the-meaning-of-gravitas%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
0
active
oldest
votes
0
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f491549%2fwhat-is-the-meaning-of-gravitas%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
Other dictionaries are available, for example Cambridge.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 27 at 9:20
2
@AndrewLeach It adds a little to the Shorter OED, but not much. My guess is that the person who coined gravitas had in mind the idea of "attraction". A politician, for example, who possesses gravitas hold's not only the public's trust but their attention.
– WS2
Mar 27 at 9:23
1
Among some ancient Romans, the 3 characteristics of a great man were "Pietas", "Gravitas" and "Virtus". (also "Digntas" by some)...no short definitions can be had of these characteristics. The term "gravitas" is used in English today, I think, with a certain amount of caprice and may be confused with "gravity" at times (I would think by those who no nothing of the origins of the word). With no Academy to stop a misuse, this will continue. Wikipedia is suspect but this is good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitas
– J. Taylor
Mar 27 at 9:52
Gravitas and gravity are very closely related. The adjective grave is related to them too.
– Lucian Sava
Mar 27 at 10:27
1
Remember that the word "gravity" (or, rather, it's Greek/Latin predecessors) was likely invented before the physics concept of gravity was formally defined.
– Hot Licks
Mar 27 at 12:00