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tutus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word tutus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (tueor)

Pronunciation

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

Forms

tūtus (feminine tūta, neuter tūtum, comparative tūtior, superlative tūtissimus, adverb tūtē or tūtō); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is a perfect participle of tueor “to watch over, protect”, beside the regular tuitus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of safe places and of getting into safety.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero.[4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant protected from danger, safe, secure, as Cicero's complaint that no one's property was safe, safe from punishment, and immune from disease.[2][3] Of persons it meant on guard, and feeling safe.[2] Of places it meant sheltered, safe, as in Plautus, of fortifications strong, of a prison secure, and in phrases in tūtō, in tūtum and ex tūtō it meant in, into or from safety.[2] Of actions it meant free from risk, as in Terence and Caesar, and of persons trustworthy.[2] Döderlein says tūtus is safe in fact, while sēcūrus is feeling safe.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant safe, secure, cautious.[6] In Medieval Latin it meant safe, unharmed.[7] English tutor comes from the related noun tūtor “guardian”.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of safe places.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of safe actions.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of safety and security.[2][3][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Safe, secure, protected.[2]
  2. On guard; feeling safe.[2]
  3. (of places) Sheltered, in tūtō, in safety.[2]
  4. Free from risk.[2]
  5. Trustworthy; assured.[2]

Word family

  • intūtus
  • subtutus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Tutus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/tutus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·