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editus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word editus

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Latin edo
Latin editor
English editor
Latin editus

editus1 high, lofty

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (ēdō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈeː.dɪ.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.di.tus][1]

Forms

ēditus (feminine ēdita, neuter ēditum, comparative ēditior, superlative ēditissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

The adjective is the perfect participle of ēdō “to put forth, raise”, from ex- and dō (“to give, put”).[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cicero's Verrines.[3][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant extending far upwards, high, lofty, situated high, as in Cicero, Caesar's ēditior and Sallust's ēditissimus; and figuratively exalted in rank, outstanding, as in Seneca.[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant lofty.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of height.[4][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses ēditior.[4][3]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of rank.[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. High, lofty; situated high.[2]
  2. Exalted (in rank); outstanding.[2]

Word family

  • ēditum

editus2 excrement

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ulpian
Ultimate origin
Latin (ēdō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈeː.dɪ.tʊs], [ˈeː.dɪ.tuːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.di.tus], [ˈɛː.di.tus][1]

Forms

ēditus m (genitive ēditūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

The noun is from Latin ēdō (“to put forth”) + -tus, a verbal noun of the fourth declension.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its source is Ulpian in the Digest, of the droppings of oxen (boum).[6][4][3] Köbler dates Ulpian before 223 AD.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a voiding, excrement, droppings.[2][6]

Timeline

  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it.[4][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Excrement, droppings.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Editus.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/editus. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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