summum bonum
English
Etymology
From medieval philosophy; Latin, meaning “the highest good”.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsʌməm ˈbəʊnəm/, /ˈsʊməm ˈbɒnəm/
Noun
summum bonum (plural summa bona)
- (philosophy) The greatest good; the ultimate importance, the singular end which human beings ought to pursue.
- 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069; The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd corrected and augmented edition, Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, 1624, OCLC 54573970, (please specify |partition=1, 2, or 3):, New York Review of Books, 2001, p.65:
- Our summum bonum is commodity, and the goddess we adore Dea Moneta, Queen Money, to whom we daily offer sacrifice […].
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Usage notes
The term is used particularly in, or in reference to, medieval philosophy.
See also
Latin
Etymology
From summus (“superlative of superus”) + bonum (“a moral good”)
Noun
summum bonum n (genitive summī bonī); second declension
- (medieval, philosophy) The highest good; an ultimate goal of human existence.
Inflection
Second declension.
Second declension.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | summum bonum | summa bona |
| Genitive | summī bonī | summōrum bonōrum |
| Dative | summō bonō | summīs bonīs |
| Accusative | summum bonum | summa bona |
| Ablative | summō bonō | summīs bonīs |
| Vocative | summum bonum | summa bona |