A Basic Medieval Latin Vocabulary

A BASIC MEDIEVAL LATIN VOCABULARY Compiled by Andy Orchard

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH NOUNS littera letter (of the alphabet); (in unda wave like mensa, ‘table’ [34] plural) letter, literature agricola (m.) farmer luna moon like annus, ‘year’ [35a] anima breath, soul macula spot, stain animus soul, mind aqua water materia material campus plain, field aquila eagle memoria memory cibus food ara altar mora delay deus god (h)arena sand, arena nauta (m.) sailor digitus finger barba beard opera effort dominus lord causa cause, reason papa (m.) pope episcopus bishop controuersia dispute, quarrel pecunia money fluuius river contumelia insult, outrage perfidia treachery gladius sword copia plenty, supply poena punishment humus (f.) earth, soil culpa blame poeta (m.) poet locus (pl. usually loca) place cura care, worry, diligence porta door, gate lupus wolf disciplina instruction, education praeda booty, plunder monachus monk ecclesia church provincia province modus way, measure, manner fama rumour, reputation puella girl morbus sickness, disease familia family, household regina queen mundus world femina woman ripa bank (of a river) murus wall filia daughter sagitta arrow numerus number forma form, shape, beauty sententia opinion, feeling pagus district fortuna chance, fortune silua forest, woods populus people, nation fossa ditch summa top, summit remus oar fuga flight tenebrae (pl. only) darkness socius comrade gloria glory terra earth, land somnus sleep gratia favour, influence toga toga tribunus tribune hora hour, time, season tuba trumpet triumphus triumph hostia victim, sacrifice turba crowd tumulus mound, tomb iniuria injustice, wrong uenia forgiveness, pardon (h)umerus upper arm, shoulder inopia want, lack, scarcity uia road uentus wind insidiae (pl. only) ambush, treachery uigilia watch, wakefulness uicus village insula island uilla house, villa uulgus (n.) crowd ira anger uita life lingua tongue, language umbra shade, shadow like puer, ‘boy’ [35a]

1 A BASIC MEDIEVAL LATIN VOCABULARY Compiled by Andy Orchard

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH presbiter priest

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH like magister, ‘teacher’ [35a] oppidum town prex, precis (f.) prayer ager field otium leisure remex, remigis (m.) rower liber book periculum danger strix, strigis (f.) screech-owl pilum javelin ueruex, ueruecis (m.) wether, ram like bellum, ‘war’ [35a] praemium reward uox, uocis (f.) voice aedificium building praesidium defence, protection, aid argentum silver proelium battle like miles (c.),’soldier’, pes (m.),’foot’, or caput arma (pl. only) weapons saxum stone, rock (n.), ‘head’ [39] aurum gold scutum shield aestas, aestatis (f.) summer auxilium help silentium silence aetas, aetatis (f.) life, time, age biduum two-day period spatium space, distance anas, anatis (f.) duck bracchium arm, forearm stipendium pay, tax auctoritas, auctoritatis (f.) authority caelum heaven, sky subsidium aid, support calamitas, calamitatis (f.) calamity castellum fortress, stronghold supplicium punishment, kneeling cor, cordis (n.) heart castra (pl. only) camp telum dart, javelin cupiditas, -tatis (f.) eagerness, greed concilium council tergum back custos, custodis (c.) guard consilium counsel, plan tormentum torture; pl. artillery difficultas, difficultatis (f.) difficulty, hardship detrimentum loss, injury triduum three-day period dignitas, dignitatis (f.)worth, character, honour donum gift uallum rampart, fortification eques, equitis (m.) horseman factum deed uenenum poison heres, heredis (c.) heir ferrum iron uerbum word hospes, hospitis (m.) host, guest frumentum corn, grain uinculum chain, bond incus, incudis (f.) anvil ieiunium fast, fasting lac, lactis (n.) milk ingenium talent, character like iudex (c.), ‘judge’, radix (f.), ‘root’, or rex lapis, lapidis (m.) stone initium beginning (m.), ‘king’ [38] laus, laudis (f.) praise interuallum distance, space between coniunx, coniugis (c.) spouse merces, mercedis (f.) hire iugum yoke, mountain-ridge dux, ducis (c.) leader nepos, nepotis (m.) grandson, nephew lucrum gain, profit, advantage fax, facis (f.) torch obses, obsidis (c.) hostage mendacium lie, falsehood fornix, fornicis (m.) arch palus, paludis (f.) swamp miraculum miracle *frux, frugis (f.) fruit paries, parietis (m.) wall moenia (pl. only) walls grex, gregis (m.) flock pecus, pecudis (f.) beast momentum movement lex, legis (f.) law pedes, peditis (m.) foot-soldier negotium business, occupation lux, lucis (f.) light praes, praedis (m.) bondsman odium hatred nex, necis (f.) death quies, quietis (f.) rest officium duty pax, pacis (f.) peace sacerdos, -otis (c.) priest

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH salus, salutis (f.) health, safety, well-being uenus, ueneris (f.) love, sex, beauty canis, canis (c.) dog seges, -etis (f.) corn uulnus, uulneris (n.) wound carmen, -inis (n.) song seruitus, seruitutis (f.) slavery, servitude caro, carnis (f.) flesh tempestas, tempestatis (f.) storm, weather like consul (m.), ‘consul’, amor (m.), ‘love’, pater conditio, conditionis (f.) condition uas, uadis (m.) surety, bail (m.), ‘father’, or aequor (n.), ‘plain’, ‘sea’ consuetudo, -tudinis (f.) custom uirtus, -utis (f.) virtue [42] deditio, deditionis (f.) surrender uoluptas, uoluptatis (f.) pleasure, enjoyment agger, aggeris (n.) mound, earth, rampart eruptio, eruptionis (f.) sortie auctor, auctoris (m.) author, originator flumen, fluminis (n.) river like princeps (c.), ‘chief’, ‘prince’ [40] anser, anseris (m.) goose, gander hiems, hiemis (f.) winter auceps, -cupis (m.) bird-catcher carcer, -eris (m.) prison homo, -inis (m.) man *daps, dapis (f.) food, banquet ebur, eboris (n.) ivory imago, imaginis (f.) likeness forceps, -cipis (c.) tongs defensor, defensoris (m.) defender iter, itineris (n) journey *ops, opis (f.) help frater, fratris (m.) brother iuuenis, iuuenis (c.) young person *stips, stipis (f.) penny, small coin funditor, funditoris (m.) slingsman latro, -onis (m.) robber trabs, trabis (f.) beam fur, furis (c.) thief, robber legatio, legationis (f.) embassy labor, laboris (m.) work legio, legionis (f.) legion like flos (m.), ‘flower’, opus (n.), ‘work’, ‘deed’, or mater, matris (f.) mother limen, luminis (n.) threshold, entrance crus (n.), ‘leg’ [41] mel, mellis (n.) honey lumen, liminis (n.) light, lamp aes, aeris (n.) copper, bronze, money mercator, mercatoris (m.) merchant multitudo, multitudinis (f.) crowd, multitude cinis, cineris (m.) ash, cinder mugil, mugilis (m.) mullet natio, nationis (f.) nation, tribe corpus, -oris (n.) body mulier, mulieris (f.) woman numen, numinis (n.) divine power, godhead genus, generis (n.) race orator, -oris (m.) speaker occasio, occasionis (f.) opportunity, fit time honos/ -or, honoris (m.) honour, repute rumor, rumoris (m.) rumour, report omen, ominis (n.) omen, foreboding ius, iuris (n.) law sal, salis (m.) salt opinio, opinionis (f.) opinion, guess, reputation latus, lateris (n.) side, flank sol, solis (m.) sun oratio, orationis (f.) speech, prayer litus, litoris (n.) shore, coast soror, sororis (f.) sister ordo, -inis (m.) order mos, moris (m.) custom uer, ueris (n.) spring ratio, -onis (f.) reason munus, muneris (n.) gift, service, duty uesper, uesperis (n.) evening regio, regionis (f.) direction, region, district onus, oneris (n.) burden uictor, uictoris (m.) victor religio, religionis (f.) sense of duty, religion os, oris (n.) mouth uultur, uulturis (m.) vulture semen, seminis (n.) seed rus, ruris (n.) countryside uxor, uxoris (f.) wife sermo, sermonis (m.) speech, sermon, conversation puluis, pulueris (m.) dust statio, stationis (f.) sentry, outpost scelus, sceleris (n.) crime, sin like leo (m.), ‘lion’, uirgo (f.), ‘virgin’, ‘young suspicio, suspicionis (f.) distrust, suspicion tempus, temporis (n.) time woman’, or nomen (n.), ‘name’ [43] uas, uasis (n.) vessel agmen, agminis (n.) column, army

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH like ciuis (c.), ‘citizen’, or imber (m.), ‘shower’ ars, artis (f.) skill, art cruciatus torment, torture [44 and notes] arx, arcis (f.) citadel euentus outcome amnis, amnis (m.) river cliens, clientis (m.) dependent, client exitus outcome, departure auis, auis (f.) bird cohors, cohortis (f.) cohort gradus step, pace classis, classis (f.) fleet dens, dentis (m.) tooth impetus attack clauis, clauis (f.) key fors, fortis (f.) chance, accident manus (f.) hand, band collis, collis (m.) hill fraus, fraudis (f.) deceit metus fear febris, febris (f.) fever frons, frondis (f.) leaf occasus setting, going down ignis, ignis (m.) fire frons, frontis (f.) forehead passus step, pace hostis, hostis (c.) enemy gens, gentis (f.) people, race portus port, harbour linter, lintris (f.) boat, skiff lis, litis (f.) dispute, quarrel senatus senate mensis, mensis (m.) month mens, mentis (f.) mind sinus fold, gulf, bay nauis, nauis (f.) ship nox, noctis (f.) night status position, state, status puppis, puppis (f.) stern pars, partis (f.) part strepitus din, noise, uproar restis, restis (f.) rope pons, pontis (m.) bridge tumultus uproar, tumult securis, securis (f.) axe sors, sortis (f.) lot, prophecy uultus face sementis, sementis (f.) sowing stirps, stirpis (f.) stem, stock sitis, sitis (f.) thirst like genu, ‘knee’ [55] testis, testis (c.) witness like cubile (n.),’bed’, animal (n.), ‘animal’, or cornu horn, wing (of an army) turris, turris (f.) tower calcar (n.)’spur’ [47 and note] ueru spit tussis, tussis (f.) cough conclaue, conclauis (n.) room uestis, uestis (f.) clothing exemplar, exemplaris (n.) pattern, copy like dies, ‘day’ [57] *uis, uiris (f.) force far, farris (n.) flour acies sharp edge, battle-line uter, utris (m.) leather bottle iubar, iubaris (n.) sunbeam meridies noon, mid-day mare, maris (n.) sea planities plain, level ground like nubes (f.), ‘cloud’ [45] nectar, nectaris (n.) nectar res thing, event, circumstance cautes, cautis (f.) rock rete, retis (n.) net res publica the state fames, famis (f.) hunger sedile, sedilis (n.) seat species kind, appearance moles, molis (f.) pile tribunal, tribunalis (n.) tribunal rupes, rupis (f.) crag ADJECTIVES tabes, tabis (f.) stain, corruption, decay like gradus, ‘step’ [55] ualles, uallis (f.) valley acus (f.) needle like bonus, ‘good’ [71] uulpes, uulpis (f.) fox aduentus arrival albus white casus accident, chance, fall alienus belonging to another, like mons (m.), ‘mountain’, or urbs (f.), ‘city’ [46] commeatus trip, supplies strange, foreign

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH altus high, deep inimicus unfriendly uacuus empty amplus large, splendid inuitus unwilling, reluctant uanus void, empty angustus narrow, difficult iustus just uarius changeable antiquus old, ancient laetus glad uerus true, real, genuine anxius troubled, anxious lassus tired uicinus neighbouring arduus steep, difficult latus broad, wide aridus dry longus long like tener, ‘tender’ [71] auarus grasping, greedy magnus great asper harsh, rough barbarus foreign, barbarous malus bad, wicked, evil liber free beatus blessed, happy, saintly maturus ripe, mature prosper prosperous caecus blind multus many calidus hot, warm necessarius necessary, critical like niger, ‘black’ [71] callidus clever, shrewd nonnullus some aeger sick, feeble captiuus captive, prisoner nouus new, fresh, strange creber dense, frequent certus certain, definite opportunus opportune, fit, convenient dexter right-hand certiorem facere to inform [someone] paruus small sacer sacred clarus clear, bright, famous pauci (pl. only) few integer whole, untouched commodus convenient, suitable peritus tried, skilled, familiar with sinister left-hand continuus continuous, successive perpetuus continuous cotidianus daily posterus following like acer, ‘sharp’, ‘fierce’ [73] (de)fessus tired primus first alacer lively, eager, glad diuersus separate, different pristinus former, original, old-time campester level, flat doctus learned priuatus private, personal celeber famous durus hard, cruel propinquus near celer (retains medial –e) swift, quick, rapid egregius outstanding publicus public, official equester equestrian exiguus scanty, small quantus how great, how much pedester pedestrian extremus farthest, extreme saeuus savage, wild paluster marshy ferus wild sanctus holy puter crumbling, putrid finitimus neighboring secundus second, favourable saluber healthy idoneus suitable singuli (pl. only) one at a time terrester earthly ignauus inactive, lazy solus alone, only uolucer winged ignotus unknown, unfamiliar superbus proud, haughty imus lowest, deepest, last superus high like ingens, ‘huge’ [74] inferus below totus whole, entire, all clemens calm, gentle infestus unsafe, hostile uniuersus all together diligens diligent, faithful

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH frequens frequent CONJUNCTIONS [176—9] neue, neu nor, and not praesens present an or nisi unless prudens prudent utrum … an whether … or postquam, posteaquam after, as soon as recens recent antequam before priusquam, prius … quam before sapiens wise at, ast but, however quam than vehemens violent, impetuous at enim but moreover quamquam although atque, ac and, as, than quamobrem wherefore like tristis, ‘sad’ [73] atqui but yet quamuis although breuis short, brief attamen but nevertheless quando when communis shared, common aut or quandoquidem since crudelis cruel aut … aut either … or quapropter wherefore decliuis sloping downward autem but, however quare wherefore difficilis difficult ceterum but, moreover quatenus how long facilis easy ceu as, as though -que and fidelis faithful cum when, since, although quia because fortis strong, brave donec until quin but that, from grauis heavy, grievous dum while, provided that, until quippe seeing that humilis humble, lowly enim for quo in order that, that immanis huge, monstrous enimuero for indeed quoad as long as immunis not bound, free ergo therefore quocirca wherefore incolumis unharmed, safe et and, even quod because inermis unarmed et … et both … and quod si but if mediocris mediocre etenim for quominus whereby not mollis soft etiam also quoniam since, because nobilis noble etsi, etiamsi even if, and yet quoque also omnis all igitur therefore, accordingly sed but insignis outstanding interea meanwhile si if, whether lenis gentle interim meanwhile si quidem, siquidem inasmuch as leuis light itaque therefore si quis if anyone similis similar item also sicut, sicuti as talis such nam for simul ac as soon as tenuis thin, slight, feeble namque for, inasmuch as sin but if turpis disgraceful ne lest siue, seu or if utilis useful nec, neque nor, and not siue … siue, seu … seu whether …or, either … nec … nec, neque … neque neither … nor or

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH tametsi although deinceps afterwards illac by that way tamen however, nevertheless, still deinde then, next illic thence tamquam as though demum at length illuc thither ubi when, as denique finally, after all inde then, from that place -ue or diu for a long time indidem from the same place uel or diutissime for the longest time insuper moreover uel … uel either …or diutius for a longer time interdum sometimes, now and then uelut, ueluti as ea by that way inuicem in turn uero, uerum but, moreover eo there, to that place ita thus, so uerumtamen but nevertheless eodem to the same place itaque and so, therefore ut so that, in order that, as, equidem indeed item also, likewise when etiam also, even, still iterum again, a second time ut non so that not facile easily itidem likewise ut si as if falso falsely lente slowly fere, ferme almost magis more, rather ADVERBS [163—70] forsan perhaps magnopere greatly adeo so far forsitan perhaps mane in the morning admodum just, fully, very fortasse by chance minime saepe very seldom aegre scarcely, with difficulty forte by chance modo now; only aeque likewise frustra in vain mox soon alias at another time hac by this way multum much alibi elsewhere haud not ne that not, lest aliter differently, otherwise haudquaquam by no means ne quidem not even ante before hic here -ne whether (introduces a bene well hinc hence question) celeriter quickly huc to this place, besides ne … an whether … or certe certainly iam now, already nihil, nil nothing clam secretly iam diu long since nimis too much confestim immediately iam dudum a long time ago non not coram in the presence of iam pridem long ago nondum not yet cotidie daily ibi there, in that place non iam no longer crebro frequently ibidem in the same place nonnumquam sometimes cum … tum not only … but also idcirco on that account non modo … sed etiam not only … but also cum primum as soon as identidem repeatedly neutiquam by no means cur why? ideo on that account numquam never

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH nunc now quam how tam diu so long nuper recently quamobrem why tandem at last nusquam nowhere quando when tantum only, so much olim once quantum how much temere rashly omnino certainly quare why tertio thirdly paene almost quemadmodum how totiens so often pariter alike quidem indeed tum then partim partly quo whither tunc then, at that time parum too little quomodo how ualde very paulo, paulum a little, slightly quondam once ubi where paulatim little by little quoque also, too ubi primum as soon as paulisper for a short time quotiens how often ubique everywhere perinde likewise raro seldom uehementer strongly plane quite repente suddenly uelut, ueluti even as, just as, as if plerumque usually rursum, rursus back, again uero but, truly postea afterwards saepe often uix scarcely postremo lastly sane certainly ultro beyond, spontaneously postridie next day sapienter wisely umquam ever potissimum most of all satis enough una together potius rather secus differently, otherwise una cum together with praesertim especially semel once unde whence praeterea moreover semper always undique from all sides pridem long ago sic thus, so usquam anywhere pridie on the day before sicut, sicuti just as, as if, like usque continuously, so far primo in the beginning similiter likewise ut as, how primo, primum first simul at the same time, together procul far simul ac, simul atque as soon as profecto certainly solum only PREPOSITIONS [171—5] proinde likewise statim immediately with accusative propterea for this reason sua sponte of her/his own accord, ad to, towards protinus immediately voluntarily aduersus, aduersum turned against, hostile to qua by what way, where subito suddenly ante before, in front of quam (+ superlative) as … as possible supra above, previously apud at the house of, near quam diu how long, as long as tam so, thus circa, circum around, about quam longe how far tam … quam as much … as cis, citra on this side of

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH contra against, opposite tenus as far as impero (+ dat.) command, order erga towards with both accusative and ablative impetro gain a request, secure extra outside, beyond in into (+ acc.); in, on (+ abl.) implico entangle, interweave infra below, under sub under, below indico point out, show, indicate inter between, among super over, upon interrogo ask, question, examine intra inside, within subter under inuito invite, treat, feast, examine iuxta close to, near iudico judge, decide ob on account of, towards VERBS iuro swear, take an oath penes in the power of like amo, ‘love’ [116 and 120] laudo praise per through administro manage, attend to laxo open up, extend pone behind aequo make equal lustro go round, purify, illuminate post after, behind aestimo estimate, value migro remove, deport, migrate praeter beyond ambulo walk mitigo soothe, calm prope near appello call, name muto alter, change, vary propius nearer apto adapt, fit narro tell, relate propissime nearest appropinquo approach nauigo sail, cruise propter on account of aro plough neco kill secundum according to clamo call out, shout nego say no, deny supra above, beyond cogito consider, think, plan nudo strip, uncover trans across damno convict, find guilty nuntio announce uersus, uersum towards decerto fight, decide occulto hide ultra beyond (de)monstro show, explain occupo occupy with genitive desidero desire, wish for, miss oppugno attack, beseige gratia (after the noun) for the sake of despero despair of oro pray, plead with ablative dimico fight paco pacify, conquer a, ab from, by dubito doubt, hesitate paro prepare absque without (e)nuntio announce, report perturbo disturb coram in the presence of existimo estimate, think porto carry cum with exploro explore postulo demand de down, down from, about expugno capture, take by storm praedico announce, assert e, ex out of, from exspecto await, look out for probo approve, esteem palam in the sight of firmo strengthen, fortify pronuntio announce, proclaim prae before, in front of habito inhabit, dwell pugno fight, battle pro in front of, on behalf of ignoro am ignorant of puto think, prune sine without immolo sacrifice, offer recupero recover, regain

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH recuso decline, refuse ueneror worship, pray, beseech timeo fear renuntio report back uersor busy oneself, am engaged ualeo am strong, am able to (+ inf.) rogo ask, question, beg separo break off, separate like moneo, ‘warn’, ‘advise’ [117 and 121] like uereor, ‘fear’ [125] seruo keep, save, guard arceo ward off, keep away polliceor promise significo signal, show ardeo burn tueor watch, guard simulo feign, pretend debeo owe, ought to (+ inf.) sollicito disturb, arouse doleo grieve like audio, ‘hear’ [119 and 123] specto look at, gaze at exerceo train, exercise aperio open spero hope fulgeo glitter, gleam, flash comperio find out, discover, learn spiro breathe habeo have, hold expedio dispatch, set free spolio strip, rob haereo stick, cling finio finish, limit subleuo lift up, assist horreo dread, shiver impedio hinder, obstruct supero conquer, excel, overcome iaceo lie down, lie still munio fortify, defend supporto bring up immineo threaten nescio am ignorant, not know tardo hinder, delay inuideo envy reperio find, discover tempero restrain, am moderate lateo lurk, lie hid scio know tempto try, attempt licet (+ inf.) it is permitted sepelio bury trucido cut to pieces, slaughter maereo am sad, mourn uenio come uasto devastate, lay waste mereo deserve, earn conuenio come together uelo cover, conceal noceo harm inuenio come upon, find uexo trouble, ravage obtineo hold, keep, occupy peruenio come to, reach, arrive uito avoid, evade oportet (+ inf.) it is necessary, it is proper subvenio come to help uoco call, summon pareo (+ dat.) obey pateo stand open like partior, ‘share’, ‘divide’ [125] like uenor, ‘hunt’ [125] permaneo continue, remain mentior lie, deceive arbitror think perterreo frighten thoroughly potior (+ abl.) get possession of conor try placeo (+ dat.) please hortor encourage, urge, incite placet it seems best imitor imitate praebeo offer, provide like capio, ‘take’, ‘capture’ [133] minor (+ dat.) threaten prohibeo stop, forbid accipio accept, receive miror wonder, marvel splendeo shine concipio conceive pabulor forage, get fodder studeo (+ dat.) study, strive for decipio deceive populor plunder, devastate taceo am silent excipio receive, catch uagor wander, roam terreo frighten, alarm incipio begin

Part I: LATIN-ENGLISH praecipio order, direct, advise desum am wanting recipio take back, recover insum am in, am among suscipio take up, undertake intersum am between, am among cupio desire, wish, long for obsum am in the way of facio make, do, perform praesum am set over adficio affect prosum am of use conficio make ready subsum am under deficio fail supersum survive efficio make, finish interficio kill like eo, ‘go’ [137] inficio infect, dye ineo enter perficio accomplish intereo perish, am killed praeficio put in charge of pereo perish, go through proficio carry out, accomplish redeo go back, return reficio repair, restore transeo go over, cross fugio flee perfugio take refuge, desert like fero, ‘bear’, ‘carry’ [136] iacio throw, hurl, cast adfero bring to abicio throw away confero bring together adicio throw at defero bring away conicio throw together differo differ deicio throw down effero carry away intericio throw between infero bring in obicio throw against offero bring to, offer proicio throw forward perfero bring, report perspicio inspect, understand refero bring back, report rapio seize, snatch abripio snatch away corripio snatch diripio tear to pieces eripio rip away like sum, ‘am’ [115] absum am absent adsum am present