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proles

Etymology and origin of the Latin word proles

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (alō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈproː.ɫeːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɔː.les][1]

Forms

prōlēs f (genitive prōlis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from prō- “forth” and ⟨*-olēs⟩ “growth”, as in subolēs and indolēs, from the root of adolēscō “to grow up”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero and Quintilian considered the word poetic.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

It meant offspring, progeny, of people and animals, as in Cicero, and the offspring of one age, a generation.[2] In Lucretius it meant a race, breed, usually in poetic phrases.[2] Döderlein explains that stirps, genus and gēns look back to the ancestors, while prōgeniēs, prōpāgō and prōlēs look forward to the descendants.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant offspring, a child.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for offspring, a descendant, and of Christ as the Son of God.[6] It survives in Italian and Spanish prole.[1] Its derivative prōlētārius, a citizen of the lowest class, who served the state only with his offspring, gave English proletarian in the 1650s.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of offspring.[2][3]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a race.[2][3]
  • 1650s – English proletarian is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Offspring, progeny.[2]
  2. A generation.[2]
  3. A race, breed.[2]

Word family

  • imprōlis
  • improlus
  • prōlētāneus
  • prōlētārius

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from stirps, genus and prōgeniēs.[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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Proles.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/proles. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·