Etymologically
Log in

ros

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 01:26. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈroːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɔs][1]

Forms

rōs m (genitive rōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *rōs, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rōs (“dew, juice”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ers- (“to flow”).[2][1][3] Cognate with Sanskrit रस (rása, “juice, liquid”), Lithuanian rasà (“dew”), Old Church Slavonic роса (rosa, “dew”) and Hittite arš- (“to flow”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was dew, as Lucretius' grass glistening with fresh dew, also in the plural, and not always distinguished from rain.[3][5] It was the water of rivers or the sea as spray, and other liquids, tears or blood.[3][5] Rōs marīnus “dew of the sea” was rosemary, as in Varro.[3][1]

In medieval Latin it was used with reference to Gideon's fleece, as May-dew in alchemy, and as an image of inspiration.[6] Through rōsmarīnus it gave English rosemary.[7] It survives as Romanian rouă.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses rōs marīnus of rosemary.[3][4]
  • c. 1300 – English rosmarine “rosemary” is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Dew.[3][8]
  2. Moisture, spray; a liquid (tears, blood).[3][1]
  3. Rōs marīnus, rosemary.[3][1]

Word family

  • rōrifer
  • rorifluus
  • rōriger
  • rōrō
  • rōrulentus
  • rōscidus
  • rosidus
  • rōrātiō

Usage notes

Isidore says some take it from Greek drósos, and others from its being rārus, not thick like rain.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  9. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).