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aequus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word aequus

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Confidence
Unknown
First attested
Livius Andronicus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin aequus
Latin aequalis
English equal

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈae̯.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.kʷus][1]

Forms

aequus (feminine aequa, neuter aequum, comparative aequior, superlative aequissimus, adverb aequē or aequiter); first/second-declension adjective[1] The old spellings are aiquom, in the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus, and aecus, in Pacuvius and Lucretius.[2][3][4]

Etymology

It probably goes back to a form *aikwos, but there is no convincing etymology.[2] Lewis & Short report older comparisons with Ancient Greek ἔοικα (éoika, “to be like”) and with Sanskrit एक (éka, “one”), and a link with aemulor.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Livius Andronicus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was first level, even or flat, as Caesar's level ground, then on a level with, equal in quantity or distance, evenly balanced, and matching.[4][6] Aequa pars was a half.[4] Of laws and actions it meant fair or just, of people favourable or kindly, and of the mind calm and resigned: aequō animō “with equanimity”.[4] Döderlein says aequum is what is alike in its own parts, while pār is equal to something else.[7]

In medieval Latin it kept the senses “equal, even” and “calm”.[8][9] English equal comes from aequālis and equanimity from aequanimitās.[10]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of level ground.[6][5]
  • late 14th century – English equal is recorded, from aequālis.[10]
  • c. 1600 – English equanimity is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Level, even, flat.[4][3]
  2. On a level (with); as high (as).[4]
  3. Equal, aequa pars, a half.[4]
  4. Evenly balanced.[4]
  5. Matching, alike.[4]
  6. Fair, just, reasonable.[4]
  7. Favourable, kindly (to).[4]
  8. Calm, unruffled, aequō animō, with equanimity.[4]
  9. Reasonable, likely.[4]

Word family

  • aequābilis
  • aequābilitās
  • aequābiliter
  • aequaevus
  • aequālis
  • aequālitās
  • aequāliter
  • aequanimitās
  • aequanimiter
  • aequanimus
  • aequātiō
  • aequātus
  • inīquus
  • English equal
  • English equanimity

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  9. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  10. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Derived terms

Cite this entry

“Aequus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/aequus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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