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gravidus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word gravidus

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

Pronunciation

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

Forms

gravidus (feminine gravida, neuter gravidum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from gravis “heavy” with the suffix -idus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a pregnant woman and of things laden.[2] Köbler's first source is Livius Andronicus, whom he dates 280/260 to before 200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant heavy with young, pregnant, as in Plautus, and by transfer laden, swollen, teeming, as with produce.[2] Döderlein explains that praegnāns is pregnant in general, gravidus of human beings, the physical and medical word, while fēta, forda and incīēns are used of animals.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant heavy, laden, full, pregnant.[6] British Medieval Latin used it of pregnancy, also figuratively.[7] It survives in Italian gravido, and gave English gravid “pregnant” in the 1590s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of pregnancy.[2][4]
  • 1590s – English gravid is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Pregnant.[2]
  2. Laden, swollen, teeming.[2]

Word family

  • graviditās
  • gravidō

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from praegnāns and fēta.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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 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

“Gravidus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/gravidus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·