Etymologically
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laus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word laus

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Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Inherited
First attested
Livius Andronicus

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫau̯s][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlau̯s][1]

Forms

laus f (genitive laudis); third declension[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[2][1] The only proposed connection is with Proto-Germanic *leuþą (“song”), as in Gothic 𐌰𐍅𐌹𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌸 (awiliuþ, “song of praise”) and Old English lēoþ (“song”), from *leu-t-.[3][1][4] If related, laus must reflect *lou-Vd(h)-, and Vine suggests that PIE *lou-ó- “praising” gave Proto-Italic *lawo-, from which a d-stem *law-ed- “song of praise” was formed.[3] Lewis and Short's derivation from *claus, akin to clueō, is outdated.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus, who says praise is given to virtue.[3][4] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant praise, commendation, as Plautus' character who thinks he has earned no praise but avoided blame, then praise as enjoyed by its recipient, esteem, renown, glory, and praiseworthiness, excellence, as Cicero's view that only virtue deserves true praise.[4][7]

In Christian Latin it was praise of God or a saint, and the plural laudēs became the name of the morning office, lauds.[8][1] In medieval law it was the approval of kinsmen needed to sell land, and a payment for a lord's consent.[9] It survives in Italian lode and Romanian laudă.[1] English laud comes from its verb laudō, in the late 14th century.[10]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of praise given to virtue.[4][6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus contrasts praise and blame.[4][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of true praise owed to virtue.[4][6]
  • late 14th century – English laud is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Praise, commendation.[4]
  2. Esteem, renown, glory.[4]
  3. Praiseworthiness, excellence.[4]
  4. (Medieval Latin) The assent of kinsmen to a sale of land.[9]

Word family

  • English laud

Usage notes

Laus (Laus Pompeia) was also a town in Cisalpine Gaul near modern Lodi.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Laus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/laus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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