deitas

Deitas is a Latin noun meaning divinity, the divine nature, or the godhead. It is a feminine abstract noun formed from the root deus (god) with the suffix -tas, and it is typically used to refer to the quality or essence of being divine rather than to a specific deity. In Latin, deitas stands in contrast to dea (a goddess) and deus (a god), and it can denote the divine power, reality, or sanctity attributed to the gods or to God in philosophical and theological discourse.

Etymology and semantic range. The term expresses the concept of divinity as an abstract attribute or principle rather than as a personal being. In classical and later Latin, deitas appears in contexts discussing the nature of the divine, sacred authority, or the unity and power attributed to the gods. It can also be used to personify the divine principle in philosophical or religious arguments, though it does not designate a specific deity.

Usage in literature and theology. Across Latin authors, deitas is employed in philosophical, moral, and theological writing to denote the divine essence, the presence of the sacred, or the overall status of the gods within a given system. In Christian Latin, the word may appear in discussions of divine nature or the attributes of God, maintaining its sense as an abstract quality rather than a named figure.

Modern usage. Today, deitas is encountered primarily in scholarly discussions of Latin language and religion. It remains a technical term for the concept of divinity in classical and late antique contexts, distinct from more concrete terms like deus and dea, and from broader terms such as divinitas. See also deus, dea, divinitas.