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mediocris

Etymology and origin of the Latin word mediocris

History Permalink
Confidence
Probable
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (medius,ocris)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [mɛˈdi.ɔ.krɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [meˈdiː.o.kris][1]

Forms

mediocris (neuter mediocre, comparative mediocrior, superlative medioximus, adverb mediocriter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1] Varro has the feminine plural mediocris.[2]

Etymology

It is from medius “middle” and ocris “rugged mountain”, as if “halfway up”.[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[3] The OLD's earliest citation for middling quality is from Lucilius.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant of medium size or amount, moderate, as in Cicero, and of abstract things moderate in degree, trivial, commonplace, and intermediate; in Lucilius it meant of middling quality.[2] Döderlein explains that medius is purely local, in the middle, modicus refers to quantity, opposed to excess, and mediocris to quality, opposed to distinction.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant middling, moderate, mediocre.[6] Medieval Latin used it for the middle class of society, and the plural mediocrēs for people of middle rank.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for medium size and middle age.[8] It was borrowed into Italian and French mediocre, médiocre, and through French it gave English mediocre in the 1580s.[1][4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of middling quality.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the moderate and commonplace.[2][3]
  • 1580s – English mediocre is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of medium size, moderate.[2]
  2. Minor, trivial.[2]
  3. Middling; ordinary, mediocre.[2]
  4. Intermediate.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Of the middle class.[7]

Word family

  • mediocriculus
  • mediocritās
  • permediocris
  • mediocriter

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from medius and modicus.[5]

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 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 c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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
Cite this entry

“Mediocris.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/mediocris. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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