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calor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word calor

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (caleō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈka.ɫɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkaː.lor][1]

Forms

calor m (genitive calōris); third declension[1] Plautus uses it as a neuter.[2]

Etymology

It is from caleō “to be warm” with the suffix -or.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of heat.[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus; he dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant heat, the heat of fire, and heat as one of the four elements, as in Ennius, and in Plautus the heat of the sun, hot weather.[2] In Cicero it meant bodily heat, and figuratively zeal, ardour; in Celsus a fever, and in Virgil love, passion.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant heat.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for heat, in medicine and figuratively for passion.[6] Proto-Romance ⟨*kaˈlore⟩ survives in Sardinian kalóre, Italian calore and Spanish calor.[7][1] French calorie, formed from it, gave English calorie in 1866.[3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of heat.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the sun's heat.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of zeal.[2][4]
  • 1866 – English calorie is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Heat.[2]
  2. The heat of the sun.[2]
  3. Bodily heat; fever.[2]
  4. Zeal, ardour.[2]
  5. Love, passion.[2]

Word family

  • calōrātus
  • calōrificus
  • caldāmentum
  • caldāria
  • caldāriola
  • caldārium
  • caldārius
  • caldor
  • calefaciō
  • calefactābilis
  • calefactiō
  • calefactō
  • caleō
  • calidus
  • English calorie

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d 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
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ Buchi, Éva; Schweickard, Wolfgang, eds. (2008–), Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman (DÉRom), Nancy: ATILF, http://www.atilf.fr/DERom
Cite this entry

“Calor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/calor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·