Etymologically
Log in

caste

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 15:27. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈkas.teː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈkas.te][1]

Forms

castē (comparative castius, superlative castissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin castus (“pure, chaste”) + -ē.[2][1] De Vaan explains castus as the old past participle of the root of careō (“to lack, be free from”), so that its first sense was “free from”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in Plautus, meaning “uprightly”: in the Trinummus he speaks of a place where all who have spent their lives uprightly come together.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Cato uses it of ceremonial purity in an offering to Jupiter,[2] and Gaius Gracchus of sexual purity, in a speech where he says he kept himself chastely from others' slaves.[2][5] Cicero has it of integrity in dealing with other people's interests, and Lucretius of keeping agreements faithfully.[5][6] Gellius applies it to language, of a writer who used Latin purely.[2][6]

In British Medieval Latin it is mostly used of clergy who live chastely.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for “uprightly”.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of ceremonial purity.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of integrity in others' affairs.[5][4]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of pure Latin.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Uprightly, with integrity.[2][8]
  2. With ceremonial purity.[2]
  3. Chastely, with sexual purity.[2][8]
  4. Disinterestedly, without greed.[5]
  5. (of language) Purely, without corruption.[2][6]

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 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. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press