Latin words first recorded in the 3rd century BC

It is probably from Latin iuvenis (“young”): de Vaan lists the goddess among the derivatives of that word and takes the name as a separate extension of a stem ⟨iūn-⟩ “young”, the stem of iūnior. The…

It is from Latin iūrō (“to swear”), its participle, used in a middle sense, “having sworn”. De Vaan explains ⟨iūrō⟩ as a verb made from iūs (“law, oath”), Proto-Italic *jowes-ā-je- (“to swear”).

It is formed from Latin iūrgō (“to quarrel, rebuke”) + -ium. De Vaan takes the verb, spelled ⟨iūrigāre⟩ in Plautus, and the noun to be based on a compound ⟨*iūrago-⟩, from ⟨*ious-ago-⟩ “bringing the…

It is from Latin iūs (“law, right”) + -igō, with the combining form of agō (“to drive, conduct”), like lītigō. De Vaan bases the verb, together with obiūrgō and iūrgium, on an unattested noun going…

It is formed from Latin iūs (“law, right”) + -ō, a verb made from the noun. De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *jowes-ā-je- (“to swear”), from the s-stem *jowos (“oath, law”) of iūs, which goes back…

1. The suffix for adjectives is inherited from Proto-Italic *-i(j)os, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *-yós, written ⟨-ios⟩ in Old Latin. Cognate with Ancient Greek -ιος (-ios). Weiss gives its…

It is from Latin iūs (“law, right”) + iūrandus (“to be sworn”), the gerundive of iūrō (“to swear”). De Vaan explains that verb as made from the noun, Proto-Italic *jowes-ā-je-, and the noun as…

It is formed from Latin iubeō (“to order”) + -tus. De Vaan traces the verb to Proto-Italic *jouþ-eje/o- and the causative Proto-Indo-European *Hyowdʰ-éye- (“to cause to move”), so that “set in…

It is formed from Latin iuvenis (“young”) + -tūs. De Vaan finds it older than iuventa and iuventās, and traces iuvenis to Proto-Italic *juwen- (“young”) and Proto-Indo-European *h₂iu-h₁en- (“having…

The suffix is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *-iHwós, an extended form of *-wós. Compare Ancient Greek -εῖος (-eîos), from which some Latin forms in -ēus come. Weiss treats it among the Latin…

It is from Latin labefaciō (“to make unsteady”) + -tō, from labō (“to totter”) and faciō (“to make”). De Vaan traces labō to a root meaning “weak”, compare Old High German slaf, but the details of…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *glagt- (“milk”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *glg-t- (“milk”). Cognate with Ancient Greek γάλα (gála, “milk”), genitive γάλακτος (gálaktos), and Old…

It is formed from Latin lacer (“torn, mangled”) + -ō, the verb suffix. De Vaan notes that the verb is attested much earlier than the adjective but is still made from it, and traces ⟨lacer⟩ to…

It is from Proto-Indo-European *lh₂k- (“to tear”), through a nasal stem from which de Vaan also explains lancinō (“to tear to pieces”). It belongs with lacer (“torn, mangled”), and Wiktionary gives…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Λακωνικός (Lakōnikós, “Laconian”), from Λάκων (Lákōn, “a Laconian, Spartan”), whose further origin is unclear. Latin also borrowed the noun as Lacō.

It is formed from Latin laetus (“glad, joyful”) + -itia. The origin of laetus is unknown: Walde, Hofmann and Pokorny took “fat, rich” as its first sense and linked it with lārdum (“bacon”) and…

It is formed from Latin laetus (“glad, joyful”), as the deponent beside laetō (“to gladden”). The adjective has no accepted etymology: de Vaan finds Walde–Hofmann's and Pokorny's link with lāridum…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek λάγυνος (lágunos, “flask”), adapted to the Latin first declension; Köbler calls the further origin of the Greek word unknown. Isidore of Seville noted that it is a…

It is from Latin lāmentor (“to wail, lament”) + -tiō. De Vaan derives that verb from lāmentum (“wailing”), from Proto-Italic *lāmnto- (“howling”) and Proto-Indo-European *leh2-mn-to- (“howling…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek λαμπάς (lampás, “torch”), from λάμπω (lámpō, “to shine”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (“to glow”). Isidore of Seville explained it as a flame shining…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *wlānā- (“wool”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ulh₁-neh₂- (“wool”), literally “plucked material”. Cognate with Old Irish olann (“wool”), Sanskrit ऊर्णा…

It is from Latin lāna (“wool”) + -eus. De Vaan traces lāna back to Proto-Italic *wlānā- and Proto-Indo-European *h₂ulh₁-neh₂- (“wool”), literally “plucked material”, and lists among its cognates…

It is from Latin langueō (“to be faint, weary”) + -or. De Vaan takes the basis to be an adjective ⟨*lang-u(o)-⟩ faint, a nasalized variant of the root of laxus (“loose”), from Proto-Italic…

The origin is disputed. De Vaan's reconstruction is inherited from Proto-Italic *lanio- (“breaker”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₃lomH-io-, from the root *lem(H)- (“to break”): the butcher…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek λαμπτήρ (lamptḗr, “torch, lamp”), from λάμπω (lámpō, “to shine”). The OLD takes it as an adaptation of the Greek word that came through Etruscan, and Wiktionary and…

It is from Latin lapis (“stone”) + caedō (“to cut”) + -īna, or lapicīda (“stonecutter”) with the suffix of workplaces. De Vaan thinks lapis is probably a Mediterranean loanword, and compares Ancient…

It is from Latin largus (“generous, abundant”) + -ē, the adverb of the adjective. The origin of largus is uncertain: de Vaan doubts that its long vowel is original, which weakens Walde and Hofmann's…

It is formed from Latin largus (“abundant, generous”) + -iō, the verbal suffix. The origin of ⟨largus⟩ is unclear: de Vaan doubts that its long /aː/ is original, which undermines Walde and Pokorny's…

It is from Latin lārgus (“abundant, generous”) + -ter. De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of lārgus, whose origin is unclear: he doubts that its long vowel is original, which undermines the…

It is from Latin lascīvus (“playful, wanton”) + -ia. De Vaan lists it under ⟨lascīvus⟩, built on a stem Proto-Italic *lasko- from Proto-Indo-European *lh₂s-ko- (“desirous”), cognate with Old Irish…

It is from Latin lassus (“tired”) + -tūdō. The adjective lassus goes back to Proto-Italic *lassos and Proto-Indo-European *lh₁d-tó- (“tired”), with a d-extension of the root Proto-Indo-European…

It is formed from Latin lateō (“to lie hidden”) + -bra, as in tenebrae (“darkness”); de Vaan explains its short ⟨e⟩ by the model of ⟨tenebrae⟩. He traces ⟨lateō⟩ to Proto-Italic *latē- and…

It is from Latin latebra (“hiding place”) + -ōsus. latebra comes from lateō (“to lie hidden”); de Vaan explains its short ⟨e⟩ by analogy with tenebrae (“darkness”). He takes lateō as a stative verb…

It is from Latin later (“brick, tile”) + -culus, a diminutive. De Vaan suggests that later may be related to latus (“side”), if its first meaning was “piece, part”.

It is from Latin lateō (“to lie hidden”) + -itō, a frequentative. De Vaan takes lateō as a stative verb made from an adjective “hidden”, from Proto-Italic *latē- and Proto-Indo-European *lh₂-to-…

It is from Latin lavātrīna (“washing place, bath”) by contraction, which Varro still gives in the full form. That word comes from lavō (“to wash”); Wiktionary analyses it as lavō with -tor and -īna…

It is from Latin latrō (“mercenary; robber”) + -cinor. The OLD explains it as made from latrōcinium (“military service for pay; brigandage”) in the same way. The origin of that noun for “mercenary”…

It is from Latin lautus (“elegant, sumptuous”) + -ē. The adjective is one of the past participles of lavō (“to wash, bathe”), beside lōtus; Georges gives the adverb's basic sense as cleanly, then…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek λατομίαι (latomíai, “stone quarries”).

It is from Latin laxus (“loose, wide”) + -ē. De Vaan reconstructs that adjective as Proto-Italic *(s)lakso- and Proto-Indo-European *slǵ-so- (“weak, faint”), the root of langueō (“to be faint”)…

It is from Latin lectus (“bed, couch”) + -ulus, a diminutive, as Varro already notes. De Vaan traces lectus to Proto-Italic *lekto/u- (“bed”), perhaps Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-tu- (“the lying”)…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek λέμβος (lémbos, “a small boat”). The Greek word is perhaps of Illyrian origin.

The OLD and Wiktionary derive it from Latin lēnō (“pimp”), as its feminine. The TLL calls the origin uncertain, and reports a grammarian who derived it from lēniō (“to soothe”). De Vaan rejects the…

It is from Latin lēnō (“pimp”) + -cinium. De Vaan explains the varying suffixes of lēnō and lēna as remodellings of an old n-stem, perhaps meaning "one who lets", and possibly the same stem as in…

It is from Latin lepidus (“charming, pleasant”) + -ē. The OLD suggests that lepidus may come from Ancient Greek λεπτός (leptós, “fine, delicate”); Wiktionary derives it from a root *lep- with the…

It is formed from Latin lepōs (“charm, grace”) + -idus, on the root, as nitidus (“shining”) beside nitor (“brightness”); whether the noun or the adjective came first is uncertain. De Vaan…

It is probably not an Indo-European word. Pliny calls Ancient Greek λεβηρίς (lebērís, “rabbit”) a word of Massilia, which has led to the suggestion that the Latin word was borrowed from Iberian; de…

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Λέσβιος (Lésbios, “of Lesbos”), the adjective of Λέσβος (Lésbos), the island of Lesbos in the Aegean. Etymonline reports that the island's name may originally have…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *lēg- (“law”), a root noun which de Vaan interprets as a “collection” of rules, from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to gather”), the root of legō “to gather, read”; he…

It is from Latin libet (“it pleases”), its present participle, used as an adjective. De Vaan derives ⟨libet⟩, older ⟨lubet⟩, from Proto-Italic *luf-ē- (“to desire”) and Proto-Indo-European…

It is formed from Latin libet (“it is pleasing”) + -īdō, as cupīdō from cupiō. De Vaan thinks the suffix was originally ⟨*-ēdōn⟩, built on the verb stem ⟨*lub-ē-⟩, and was changed under the…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *likē- (“to be available, to have the value of”), the verb also behind the impersonal licet (“it is permitted”) and the deponent liceor (“to bid”). De Vaan takes…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *lik-ē- (“to be available, have the value of”), the stem de Vaan reconstructs for licet (“it is allowed”), and is the deponent beside liceō (“to be for sale, fetch…

The origin is uncertain; the OLD marks it doubtful. The TLL thinks it is formed on the root ⟨*lig-⟩ of ligō (“to bind”), as the ancients already held, and Etymonline renders it “binder”; de Vaan…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *liχēn-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *splǵh-ēn (“spleen”). The Indo-European word is distorted in all its descendants, probably through taboo; Italic seems…

It is from Latin lignum (“wood”) + -eus. De Vaan traces lignum to Proto-Italic *legno- and Proto-Indo-European *leǵ(ʰ)-no-: either from the root “to collect”, as wood gathered for the fire, or with…

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *legno-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-no-, from the root Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to collect”), also in legō (“to gather”): it would first have been…

The origin is uncertain. The etymology that Walde and Hofmann and Pokorny accept connects it with lēvis (“smooth”) and with Old High German slīm (“mud, slime”) and Old High German slīmen (“to…

It is from Latin linteus (“of linen”), its neuter, used as a noun. De Vaan notes that ⟨linteus⟩, beside līnum (“flax, linen”), points to an unattested noun ⟨*linto-⟩ “linen”; the variation between…

It is perhaps inherited from Proto-Italic *l(e)ipo-, from Proto-Indo-European *l(e)ip-o- (“sticky, fat”), with the doubled stop of many Latin adjectives for physical defects; de Vaan compares…