Etymologically
Log in

frigidus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word frigidus

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (frīgus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfriː.ɡɪ.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfriː.d͡ʒi.dus][1]

Forms

frīgidus (feminine frīgida, neuter frīgidum, comparative frīgidior, superlative frīgidissimus, adverb frīgidē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from frīgus “cold”, or from frīgeō “to be cold”, with the suffix -idus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of the cold.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant cold, chilly, as in Plautus, in Cato of cold places, and in Cicero pleasantly cool.[2] In Catullus it was used of diseases with chills, sūdor frīgidus a cold sweat, in Virgil of what has lost its heat, in Ovid of people chilled, and in Lucretius cold with the chill of death.[2] In Virgil it also meant sluggish, without vigour, and Etymonline adds the senses indifferent, flat, trivial.[2][3] Döderlein explains that frīgēre is to be cold, opposed to calēre “to be warm”.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant cold, inactive, not pious.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for cold, of cold places, and cool.[7] It survives in Italian freddo and French froid, and gave English frigid in the 1620s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the cold.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of cold places.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the sluggish.[2][4]
  • 1620s – English frigid is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Cold, chilly; cool.[2]
  2. Of a cold climate.[2]
  3. Chilled; cold with death.[2]
  4. Sluggish; frigid.[2]

Word family

  • frīgefactō
  • frīgida
  • frigidefacto
  • frīgiditās
  • frīgidiusculus
  • frīgidulus
  • frīgidum
  • īnfrīgidō
  • perfrīgidus
  • praefrīgidus
  • frīgidārius
  • frīgidē

Usage notes

Döderlein contrasts frīgeō with caleō.[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 l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d 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

“Frigidus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/frigidus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·