Etymologically
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bonum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word bonum

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Livius Andronicus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Italic (*dweno-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈbɔ.nũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbɔː.num][1]

Forms

bonum n (genitive bonī); second declension[1] Livius Andronicus has the old form duona for bona.[2]

Etymology

It is the neuter of bonus “good”, used as a noun.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨bonus⟩ to Proto-Italic *dweno- (“good”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *duh₂-eno-; ⟨bene⟩ is from its ablative ⟨*duenēd⟩.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Livius Andronicus, of possessions.[2] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a good thing, a boon, advantage, blessing, benefit, and good news, as in Plautus; in the plural good fortune, prosperity, as in Terence; in medicine gain in weight; a good quality, virtue, excellence, as in Cicero; what is morally good or right, as in Plautus; a kindness, good turn; and usually in the plural possessions, property, an estate, as in Livius Andronicus.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a good, an advantage.[5] Köbler notes bona in the sense of fortune, well-being, glossed in Old High German.[4]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of possessions.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of benefits.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of virtue.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A good thing, boon, advantage, blessing.[2]
  2. (usually plural) Good fortune, prosperity.[2]
  3. A good quality, virtue.[2]
  4. What is morally good or right.[2]
  5. A kindness, good turn.[2]
  6. (usually plural) Possessions, property.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Bonum.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/bonum. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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