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laboriosus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word laboriosus

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɫa.boː.riˈoː.sʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [la.bo.riˈɔː.s̬us][1]

Forms

labōriōsus (feminine labōriōsa, neuter labōriōsum, superlative labōriōsissimus, adverb labōriōsē); first/second-declension adjective[1] It is also spelled labōriōssus.[2]

Etymology

It is from labor “work” with the suffix -ōsus, and Wiktionary suggests the ⟨i⟩ came by analogy with pairs such as cūra : cūriōsus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

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

Semantic evolution

It meant involving much work, laborious, as in Plautus, and in Cicero hard-working, industrious, and involving hardship, distressing.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant laborious, toilsome.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for laborious, wearisome, and as a neuter plural noun for labours.[6] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish laborioso and French laborieux, and through Old French it gave English laborious in the late 14th century, “hard-working”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of hard work.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the industrious.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English laborious is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Hard, laborious.[2]
  2. Hard-working, industrious.[2]
  3. Distressing.[2]

Word family

  • labōriōsē

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 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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ 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

“Laboriosus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/laboriosus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·