Etymologically
Log in

gladiatorius

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 19 October 2026 at 21:07. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɡɫa.di.aːˈtoː.ri.ʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ɡla.di.aˈtɔː.ri.us][1]

Forms

gladiātōrius (feminine gladiātōria, neuter gladiātōrium); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin gladiātor (“gladiator”) + -ius.[2][1] De Vaan lists gladiātor and gladiātōrius among the derivatives of gladius (“sword”), which he thinks Latin borrowed from Celtic or from a third language, comparing Welsh cleddyf (“sword”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest example is in Caecilius, of a band of men who look just like gladiators;[2][4] de Vaan dates it from Terence.[3]

Semantic evolution

It describes what belongs to gladiators: Cicero speaks of a gladiators' school and of a band of gladiators, as do Caesar and Sallust, and of a gladiatorial struggle for one's life.[5][2] It is also used of what resembles gladiators or is typical of them, as in Caecilius.[2] In the Middle Ages Sigebert of Gembloux uses it.[4]

Timeline

  • 230/220–168 BC – Caecilius of a gladiator-like band.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of a gladiators' school and troop.[5][4]
  • 1060–1070 – Sigebert of Gembloux uses it.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or belonging to gladiators, gladiatorial.[2][5][1]
  2. Resembling or typical of gladiators.[2]

Word family

  • gladiātōrium

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press