Etymologically
Log in

ferinus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 19:01. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɛ.rɪ.nʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛː.ri.nus][1]

Forms

ferīnus (feminine ferīna, neuter ferīnum, comparative ferīnior, superlative ferinīssimus, adverb ferīnē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from fera “wild beast” or ferus “wild” with the suffix -īnus.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨ferus⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰweh₁r- (“wild animal”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Lucretius.[2] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant of wild beasts, as in Lucretius and Sallust, with carō ferīna “game”; of beasts as against humans, as in Virgil; beastlike, as in Apuleius; and in Valerius Flaccus made of hide.[2][5] Lewis & Short call it mostly poetic and not in Cicero.[6] As a feminine noun, ferīna was game, venison.[5]

British Medieval Latin used it for wild, untamed, savage, brutal.[7] It survives in Italian ferino and French férin.[1]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.[2][4]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it.[5][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of wild beasts, carō ferīna game.[2]
  2. Beastly, bestial; savage.[2][7]
  3. Made of hide.[2]

Word family

  • ferīna

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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b 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