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vulnero

Etymology and origin of the Latin word vulnero

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (vulnus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwʊɫ.nɛ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvul.ne.ro][1]

Forms

vulnerō (present infinitive vulnerāre, perfect active vulnerāvī, supine vulnerātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from vulnus “wound” with the verb suffix -ō, and is also spelled ⟨volnerō⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of wounding.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to wound, inflict a wound on, as in Caesar and Cicero, and in Livy to damage things.[2][5] Figuratively, from Cicero, it meant to hurt, distress, and to damage someone's interests.[2] Döderlein explains that vulnus is a wound made by a weapon, plāga one made by a blow.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to wound.[7] Its Late Latin derivative vulnerābilis gave English vulnerable about 1600.[8]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of wounding.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of emotional hurt.[2][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of damaging things.[2][4]
  • c. 1600 – English vulnerable is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To wound; to damage.[2]
  2. To hurt, distress; to harm.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Vulnero.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/vulnero. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·