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luxus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word luxus

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Confidence
Disputed
Formation
Inherited
First attested
Terence

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫuːk.sʊs], [ˈɫʊk.sʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈluk.sus][1]

Forms

lū̆xus m (genitive lū̆xūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

Its origin is disputed.[1] De Vaan derives the adjective luxus (“dislocated”) from Proto-Italic *lukso-, Proto-Indo-European *lug-so- (“bent”), from the root of luctor “to wrestle”, and explains both the sense “sprained” and the noun “bending”, then “lack of restraint, excess”.[2][1] The OLD calls the noun “luxury” only sometimes identified with luxus “sprain”.[3] Lewis and Short connected it with polluceō.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Terence has it of a young man ruined by luxury.[3][4] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant soft or extravagant living, excess in eating and drinking, indulgence, then sumptuousness and opulence, as Virgil's banquets laid out with royal luxury.[3][4] The same form meant a sprain or dislocation in Cato and Apuleius.[3][4] Its derivative luxuria “luxuriance, excess” is probably built on an adjective *luxuros.[2]

French luxe gave English luxe in the 1550s.[6]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a dislocation.[3][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence speaks of a youth ruined by luxury.[3][5]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil describes banquets of royal luxury.[3][5]
  • 1550s – English luxe is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Extravagant living, excess, indulgence, luxury.[3]
  2. Sumptuousness, opulence.[3]
  3. A sprain, dislocation.[3]

Word family

  • luxor
  • lū̆xuria

Usage notes

The adjective luxus “dislocated”, as in Cato's luxum sī quod est, is the same form.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Luxus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/luxus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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