Etymologically
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deformis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word deformis

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Lucilius
Ultimate origin
Latin (dē,fōrma)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [deːˈfoːr.mɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈfɔr.mis][1]

Forms

dēfōrmis (neuter dēfōrme, comparative dēfōrmior, superlative dēfōrmissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- and fōrma “shape, beauty”, with -is.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Lucilius, of something disfigured.[2] Köbler dates Lucilius c. 180–102 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant misshapen, ugly, as in Cicero and Caesar; disfigured, as in Lucilius; morally degrading, shameful, and unbecoming, unseemly, both in Cicero; and in Seneca shapeless.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means deformed, misshapen.[6] British Medieval Latin used the neuter as a noun for a deformity or moral blemish.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of ugliness and disgrace.[2][4]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of the shapeless.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Misshapen, ugly, deformed.[2][8]
  2. Disfigured.[2]
  3. Shameful, degrading.[2]
  4. Unbecoming, unseemly.[2]
  5. Shapeless.[2]

Word family

  • dēfōrmitās
  • dēfōrmiter
  • dēfōrmātiō
  • dēfōrmō
  • fōrma
  • English deform

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Deformis.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/deformis. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·