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insipidus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word insipidus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Apuleius
Ultimate origin
Latin (sapiō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin insipidus
English insipid

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈsɪ.pɪ.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈsiː.pi.dus][1]

Forms

īnsipidus (feminine īnsipida, neuter īnsipidum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin in- + sapidus (“tasty”), from sapiō “to taste; to be wise”.[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it first in Apuleius.[4] Köbler dates Apuleius c. 125–175 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a late word meaning tasteless, without flavour, as Firmicus Maternus speaks of an insipid taste, and Paulinus of Nola of food more insipid than boiled beet.[2][5] Figuratively it meant dull, and a Christian writer asks how insipid the prophets are if Christ is not understood.[5][1]

In medieval Latin it was also used of people, foolish, ignorant or unlearned.[6][7] British writers used it of tasteless or bitter food and water, as Gerald of Wales of water neither sweet nor fully salt.[8] English insipid is recorded in the 1610s through French insipide.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it.[4]
  • 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus speaks of an insipid taste.[2][4]
  • 1610s – English insipid is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Tasteless, insipid.[2][1]
  2. Unpalatable.[1][8]
  3. Dull, (Medieval Latin) foolish, unlearned.[1][6]

Word family

  • īnsipiditās

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon 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 Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ 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

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Insipidus.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/insipidus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·