Author: iamking

“written declaration upon an oath,” 1590s, from Medieval Latin affidavit, literally “he has stated on oath,” third person singular perfective of affidare “to trust; to make an oath,” from Latin ad “to” (see ad-) + fidare “to trust,” from fidus “faithful,” from PIE root *bheidh- “to trust, confide, persuade.” So called from being the first word of sworn statements.

“person who is responsible for the property of another,” 1640s, from trust (v.) + -ee.

“writ from superior to inferior courts seeking the records of a case,” legal Latin, “to be certified, to be informed or shown,” a word figuring in the opening phrase of such writs; passive present infinitive of certorare “to certify, inform,” from certior, comparative of certus “sure” (see certain).

late 15c., “consanguinity;” see sanguine + -ity. Meaning “quality of being sanguine” is from 1737.

“blood-red,” late 14c. (late 12c. as a surname), from Old French sanguin (fem. sanguine), from Latin sanguineus “of blood,” also “bloody, bloodthirsty,” from sanguis (genitive sanguinis) “blood” (see sanguinary). Meaning “cheerful, hopeful, confident” first attested c. 1500, because these qualities were thought in old medicine to spring from an excess of blood as one of the four humors. Also in Middle English as a noun, “type of red cloth” (early 14c.).