Centesimus Octavus: October 5, 2008: Confirmitas
Theme for the month: Hapax legomena
Once again, the LVD has a theme! Hapax legomena (the singular form is hapax legomenon) are words which appear only once in all the existing ancient literature. The term is a Greek term, and means literally "spoken once." Enjoy!
confirmitas, confirmitatis f.
Definition: obstinacy
Sententia: Context from Plautus:
"os habet, linguam, perfidiam, malitiam atquem audaciam,
confidentiam, confirmitatem, fraudulentiam."
"She has impudence (lit a face), a [bad] tongue, perfidiousness, wickedness and boldness, assurance, obstinacy, deceitfulness."
This word was found in Plautus' play Miles Gloriosus. This bit seems to me like when you are really angry about something and start listing all of your reasons, but then run out and start making up words as you go along--both of the last two words are hapax legomona (also known as hapaxes for short).
NB: Bold and underline == macron