Etymologically
Log in

laureus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 01:40. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫau̯.re.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaːu̯.re.us][1]

Forms

laureus (feminine laurea, neuter laureum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin laurus (“laurel”) + -eus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are Cato, of laurel bars and leaves.[2][4] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant of laurel, as of a laurel crown in Cicero and Livy; and in Pliny resembling laurel, as a name of varieties of pears and cherries, and Columella's laurea pira were pears tasting of laurel.[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used corōna laurea for a laurel crown.[6]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5][3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of fruit varieties.[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of laurel.[2][4]
  2. Resembling laurel; of certain pears and cherries.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  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