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faustus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word faustus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (faveō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfau̯s.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfau̯s.tus][1]

Forms

faustus (feminine fausta, neuter faustum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from ⟨*favestos⟩, with syncope, an adjective in ⟨-tus⟩ formed from an s-stem noun from the root of faveō “to favour”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[3] The OLD's earliest citation is from Accius.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant attended by good fortune, lucky, as in Terence, and bringing good fortune, of good omen, as in Accius.[2] Faustus was also a personal name, as of the son of the dictator Sulla.[2] Döderlein treats fēlīx as the most general word for happiness.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant fortunate, favourable, happy.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for fortunate, lucky, happy.[6] It survives in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese fausto.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3]
  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of good omens.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of the lucky.[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Fortunate, lucky.[2]
  2. Of good omen, auspicious.[2]

Word family

  • faustitās
  • Faustulus
  • īnfaustus

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from fēlīx.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b 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

“Faustus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/faustus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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