Etymologically
Log in

putus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpʊ.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpuː.tus][1]

Forms

putus (feminine puta, neuter putum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[1] The OLD suggests it may be cognate with pūrus “clean”, and Lewis & Short and Köbler derive it from the root of ⟨pūrus⟩ and putō “to prune, reckon”, Proto-Indo-European *peuH- (“to cleanse”).[2][3][4] Wiktionary explains the short vowel as from ⟨*ph₂u-tós⟩ or by pretonic shortening of ⟨*puHtós⟩.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[4] The OLD's first citation is from Varro.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant pure, refined, unadulterated, mostly in the doubled phrase pūrus putus “pure and unmixed”, which Varro explains, and figuratively genuine, thoroughgoing, and Cicero may use it for choice, exquisite.[2][5] Argentum putum was refined silver.[5]

British Medieval Latin kept the sense pure, refined, explaining it as “cleansed”.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro explains pūrus putus.[2][5][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Pure, refined, unadulterated; genuine, thoroughgoing.[2]
  2. Choice, exquisite (doubtful).[2]

Usage notes

A second putus “boy”, a form of pūsus, rests on Scaliger's conjecture in the Catalepton attributed to Virgil.[5][3][1] De Vaan treats it as the base of pullus “young animal” and putillus “tiny”, with Oscan puklum “son”, from Proto-Indo-European *put-lo- (“son”).[7] Italian putto and Spanish puto continue it.[1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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 c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill