Etymologically
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effigies

Etymology and origin of the Latin word effigies

History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɛfˈfɪ.ɡi.eːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [efˈfiː.d͡ʒi.es][1]

Forms

effigiēs f (genitive effigiēī); fifth declension[1]

Etymology

It is formed from effingere “to portray, reproduce” with the suffix -iēs.[2][3][1] Effingere is a compound of ex- and fingere “to shape, mould”.[4] The ⟨g⟩ of effigiēs was taken over from fingō, according to de Vaan.[5] An older form effigia occurs in Plautus, Afranius and Lucretius.[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The form effigia appears in Plautus, of an image of Venus,[2][6] and effigies is attested from Cicero onwards.[5][7]

Semantic evolution

It meant an artistic representation, a statue or portrait, as of Ceres in Cicero or of ancestors carved in cedar in Virgil.[2][6] It also meant a symbol of an idea, and a model for imitation, as when Cicero calls Xenophon's Cyrus a picture of just rule.[2] Of persons it meant a copy or likeness, as of a child resembling a parent.[2]

It also meant an incorporeal likeness: a ghost or phantom, the films that Lucretius and the Epicureans thought were given off by objects, and a reflection.[2][8] More generally it meant outward appearance or shape.[2] English borrowed it in the 1530s through French as English effigy.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses effigia for an image of Venus.[2][7]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses effigiae for the films given off by things.[2][7]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses effigies for a statue and a model.[2][7]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil writes of effigies of ancestors.[2][7]
  • 1530s – English borrows it as English effigy.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A statue, portrait, effigy.[2][6]
  2. A symbol; a model for imitation.[2]
  3. A copy, likeness, image.[2]
  4. A ghost, phantom, (Epicurean philosophy) a film given off by objects; a reflection.[2]
  5. Outward appearance, shape.[2]

Word family

  • effigiō
  • effingō
  • fingō
  • English effigy

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 m n o p q 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 Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
Cite this entry

“Effigies.” Etymologically, 10 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/effigies. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on .