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fervidus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word fervidus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Accius
Ultimate origin
Latin (ferveō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɛr.wɪ.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛr.vi.dus][1]

Forms

fervidus (feminine fervida, neuter fervidum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from ferveō “to boil, glow” with the suffix -idus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Accius, whom he dates 170–c. 90 BC.[4] The OLD's earliest citation is from Lucretius.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant intensely hot, boiling, burning, as in Lucretius, and in Varro of stars blazing and of bodies hot with vital heat.[2] In Virgil it meant seething, of water and fermenting wine, and roused, blazing with anger; in Pliny the Elder hot to the taste, of strong wines, and in Horace hot-blooded.[2] Döderlein explains that calidus is a moderate warmth, as against frīgidus.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant glowing, hot, burning, fiery, vehement.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for very hot and boiling.[7] It was borrowed into Italian fervido and Spanish férvido, and gave English fervid in the 1590s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it.[4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of heat.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of seething and anger.[2][4]
  • 1590s – English fervid is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Boiling, burning.[2]
  2. Blazing, glowing.[2]
  3. Seething.[2]
  4. Hot to the taste; strong.[2]
  5. Roused, fervid; hot-blooded.[2]

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from calidus.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  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
Cite this entry

“Fervidus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/fervidus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·