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catharticus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word catharticus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 160–220 Tertullian More words from the 2nd century
Borrowed from
Ancient Greek καθαρτικός
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek καθαρτικός
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek καθαρτικός (kathartikós)
Latin catharticus
English cathartic

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kaˈtʰar.tɪ.kʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [kaˈtar.ti.kus][1]

Forms

catharticus (feminine cathartica, neuter catharticum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek καθαρτικός (kathartikós, “purifying, purgative”).[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Conte's earliest example is in Tertullian's De pallio, where the neuter is used figuratively for a means of purification.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

In Late Latin medicine it described drugs that purge the body.[3][4] Caelius Aurelianus mentions purgative remedies that the Greeks call cathartica, “that is, ones that empty the bowels”,[3] and the veterinary writers Chiron and Vegetius prescribe catharticae potiones, purging draughts.[3] Jerome uses such a draught as an image for driving out what lies in the heart,[3][4] and Isidore of Seville notes that the Greek cathartica medicamenta are purgatoria in Latin.[3]

As a neuter noun it meant a purgative, a sense common in the medieval Latin translations of Paul of Aegina and in the antidotaries.[5][4] The MLW also records it confused with catarrhus “catarrh”.[5] It is the source of the learned borrowings Italian catartico, French cathartique and English cathartic.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses the neuter figuratively for a means of purification.[4][2]
  • c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome compares something to a purging draught.[3][2]
  • 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus names purgative remedies cathartica.[3][2]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville glosses cathartica medicamenta as Latin purgatoria.[3][2]
  • 1610s – English borrows it as cathartic, first of medicines.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Purgative, laxative, said of drugs and draughts.[3][4][5]

Noun

  1. (Late Latin, neuter) A purging medicine.[4][5]
  2. (figurative) A means of purification.[4]
  3. (Medieval Latin) By confusion, catarrh.[5]

Usage notes

The DMLBS lists a separate medieval catharticus as a form of cartamus, the safflower.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  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

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Catharticus.” Etymologically, 13 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/catharticus. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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