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lues

Etymology and origin of the Latin word lues

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Confidence
Uncertain
First attested
Carmen Arvale

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫu.eːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈluː.es][1]

Forms

luēs f sg (genitive luis); third declension[1] Manilius has a plural.[2]

Etymology

Its origin is uncertain.[2][1] It may come from luō “to wash away”, as the OLD and Wiktionary suggest, or from Proto-Indo-European *lew- (“dirt, mud”), with Ancient Greek λῦμα (lûma, “dirt”) and Old Irish loth (“mud”), as Köbler and Wiktionary suggest.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Carmen Arvale, the hymn of the Arval Brothers.[3] The OLD's earliest citation is from Virgil.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant a plague, epidemic, contagion, as in Virgil, and in Seneca a scourge, affliction.[2] In Cicero it meant moral corruption, a corrupting influence, and in Petronius foul liquid.[2] Döderlein explains that luēs is an epidemic from morbid matter, contāgium a contagious disease, and pestilentia a disease as it spreads.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant disease, plague, calamity.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for contagion, plague, and a canker or ulcer.[6]

Timeline

  • Republican period – The Carmen Arvale has it.[3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of corruption.[2][3]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a plague.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A plague, epidemic, contagion.[2]
  2. A scourge, affliction.[2]
  3. Corruption.[2]
  4. Foul liquid.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) An ulcer.[6]

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from contāgium and pestilentia.[4]

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 j k l 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 Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b 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

“Lues.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/lues. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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