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cupidus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word cupidus

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkʊ.pɪ.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkuː.pi.dus][1]

Forms

cupidus (feminine cupida, neuter cupidum, comparative cupidior, superlative cupidissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from cupiō “to desire” with the suffix -idus.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of the wanton.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant eager for carnal pleasure, wanton, as in Ennius, and in Horace longing, eager.[2] In Cicero it meant well-disposed to a person, partial, greedy for wealth, and ambitious.[2] Döderlein explains that velle, optāre and expetere are acts of calm reason, while cupere, avēre and gestīre are acts of excited feeling.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant desirous, eager, fond, passionate.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for greedy, desirous.[6] It was borrowed into Italian cupido and French cupide.[1]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the wanton.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the greedy and the partial.[2][3]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of the eager.[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Longing, eager.[2]
  2. Well-disposed; partial.[2]
  3. Greedy, avaricious.[2]
  4. Ambitious.[2]
  5. Wanton, lustful.[2]

Word family

  • cupiditās
  • incupidus
  • praecupidus
  • multicupidus
  • turpilucricupidus

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  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
Cite this entry

“Cupidus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/cupidus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·