Etymologically
Log in

terrigena

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 20:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tɛrˈrɪ.ɡɛ.na][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [terˈriː.d͡ʒe.na][1]

Forms

terrigena (genitive terrigenae); first-declension one-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin terra (“earth”) + -gena (“born”),[2][1] with the second part from gignō (“to beget, bear”).[3][4] De Vaan derives ⟨terra⟩ from Proto-Italic *tersā- (“earth”) and Proto-Indo-European *ters-h₂- (“dry land”), from a root meaning to dry out.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Lucretius,[3] who uses it of the first people, born of the earth, whom the cold tormented because they had no skins to wear.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant one born of the earth, often used as an adjective.[2] Ovid, Lucan and Statius use it of the Giants and of monsters such as Typhoeus, Python and Antaeus,[2] and Ovid, Seneca and Valerius Flaccus of the warriors sprung from the dragon's teeth.[2][4] A poet quoted by Cicero calls the snail earth-born, and Apuleius uses it of winds that rise from the breath of the earth.[2][6] Tertullian has the neuter plural adjective of land animals, and Augustine uses it of earthly creatures.[7][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a mortal, an earth-born creature,[8] as when Bede contrasts the earth-born with the citizens of heaven.[9] Medieval Latin also used it for a native and for a worldling.[10]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the first people.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero quotes a poet who calls the snail earth-born.[2][3]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of the Giants and of the men sprung from the dragon's teeth.[2][3]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of winds.[2][3]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine uses it of earthly creatures.[4][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. One born of the earth: a Giant or monster; a warrior sprung from the dragon's teeth; one of the first people.[2][4]
  2. The snail.[2][6]
  3. A kind of wind.[2]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A mortal, a human being.[8][9]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A native; a worldling.[10]

Adjective

  1. Earth-born.[7][1]

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 k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ a b 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
  10. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill