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locuples

Etymology and origin of the Latin word locuples

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Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (locus,pleō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫɔ.kʊ.pɫeːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɔː.ku.ples][1]

Forms

locuplēs (genitive locuplētis, comparative locuplētior, superlative locuplētissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective[1] The second syllable is usually short, but long in Martial.[2] Genitive plural locuplētium and locuplētum.[3]

Etymology

It is traditionally analysed as from locus “place” and the root ⟨plē-⟩ of ⟨*pleō⟩ “to fill”, “rich in lands”, as Cicero and Gellius explained it.[2][4] Wiktionary reports that Nussbaum (2016) rejects the link with ⟨locus⟩ for semantic reasons.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, “wealthy”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant wealthy, rich, well-to-do, as in Plautus; rich in, well supplied with, as in Cicero; of assets ample, as in Nepos; of a guarantor solvent, able to give security, and so of a witness or source reliable, as in Livy; of orators and style rich, copious; and richly gifted in mind.[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means rich.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for wealthy, also as a noun.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of wealth in things and of style.[2][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a reliable guarantor.[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Wealthy, rich.[2][3]
  2. Well supplied (with).[2]
  3. Ample, considerable.[2]
  4. Solvent; reliable.[2]
  5. Copious (in style).[2]

Word family

  • locuplētō

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ 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

“Locuples.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/locuples. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·