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labor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word labor

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Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Inherited
First attested
Naevius

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫa.bɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaː.bor][1]

Forms

labor m (genitive labōris); third declension[1] The old nominative labōs is usual in Plautus and appears in Terence, Catullus and Sallust.[2][3]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[1] It is often connected with labō “to totter”, through “sinking under a load”, “burden”, “labour”, but de Vaan finds this unconvincing.[4][5] Wiktionary also mentions Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to seize, take”), as in Sanskrit लभते (labhate, “takes, gains”).[1] The Oxford Latin Dictionary compares the verb lābor “to slip”.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius uses it, and Plautus has the form labōs.[4] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was work, toil or effort of mind or body, industry, a task, the product of work, as the labours of oxen in Virgil, and hardship or distress.[2] In astrology it was one of twelve divisions of the zodiac.[2] It also meant illness and the pains of childbirth.[1] Döderlein says it is toil that needs strength and tires, like Ancient Greek πόνος (pónos).[7]

In medieval Latin it was field work and ploughing, and the earnings from work.[8] It survives as Italian lavoro and French labeur.[1] English labour is recorded around 1300 as “a task”.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[4][6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses labōs.[2][6]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of the labours of the oxen.[2][6]
  • c. 1300 – English labour is recorded, through Old French.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Work, labour, toil.[2][3]
  2. Industry, application.[2]
  3. A task, undertaking.[2]
  4. The product of work.[2]
  5. Hardship, distress.[2]
  6. Illness; the pains of childbirth.[1]
  7. (astrology) One of twelve divisions of the zodiac.[2]
  8. (Medieval Latin) Field work, ploughing; earnings.[8]

Word family

  • labōrō
  • labōriōsus

Usage notes

A different word is the deponent verb lābor, lābī, “to slip, glide, fall”.[1][3] Döderlein contrasts labor with molestia, trouble that dispirits.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Labor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/labor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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