Petrus

Forms

Petrus m (genitive Petrī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”).^[1][2][3] Etymonline explains the Greek name as a translation of the Syriac word for “stone”, which Latin writes Cēphās.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It came into Latin through the Bible, as the name of Saint Peter, the chief of the apostles, first called Simon and surnamed Cephas.^[3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

Besides the apostle, it became a common Christian given name.^[1][2] Its descendants include Italian Pietro,^[5] and English Peter comes from it through Old English.^[2]

Timeline

• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate names the apostle Peter.^[3][4]
• 12th century – English Peter, from Old English Petrus.^[2]

Meanings

Proper noun

1. Peter, the apostle.^[3][1][6][5]
2. A male given name, equivalent to English Peter.^[1]

Related words

• petra

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson