Etymologically
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sacrificus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word sacrificus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Ovid
Ultimate origin
Latin (sacer,faciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [saˈkrɪ.fɪ.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [saˈkriː.fi.kus][1]

Forms

sacrificus (feminine sacrifica, neuter sacrificum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from sacer “sacred” with the suffix -ficus “making”, from faciō “to make, do”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD and Lewis & Short cite Ovid, of the sacrificial axe.[2][4] Köbler dates Ovid 43 BC–18 AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant performing priestly functions, of persons, and of things belonging to sacrifices, as in Ovid's sacrifica secūris “the axe of sacrifice”, and Lewis & Short call it poetic and not before Augustus.[2][4][3]

British Medieval Latin used it as a noun for a sacrificing priest, a priest who celebrates Mass.[6] It survives in Italian sacrifico.[1] The related noun sacrificium is the source of English sacrifice.[7]

Timeline

  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it.[2][5]
  • 1500 – a British document uses it of priests.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Performing priestly functions, sacrificing.[2]
  2. Of sacrifices, sacrificial.[2][4]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A sacrificing priest.[6]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c 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. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Sacrificus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sacrificus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·