torridus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈtɔr.rɪ.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtɔr.ri.dus]^[1]

Forms

torridus (feminine torrida, neuter torridum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin torreō (“to parch, scorch”) + -idus.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨torreō⟩ to Proto-Italic *tors-eje- (“to scorch”), Proto-Indo-European *tors-éye- (“to make dry”), cognate with Sanskrit तृष्यति (tŕ̥ṣyati, “is thirsty”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Lucretius, of parched earth.^[2][4] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant dried, parched, scorched by heat, and scorching hot, as of the earth in Lucretius and of fields in drought in Livy; and dried up, shrivelled, as by cold in Cicero, and of a lean animal.^[2][4][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means hot, dry, parched.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it also figuratively for burning with passion.^[8] English torrid (1580s) is from it, first in torrid zone from Medieval Latin torrida zōna.^[9]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of things shrivelled by cold.^[2][5]
• 1580s – English torrid is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Parched, scorched; scorching hot, torrid.^[2][4]
2. Shrivelled (by cold); lean.^[2][6]

Word family

• praetorridus
• torrido

Related words

• torreō
• torris
• torrēns
• English torrid

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ 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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com