Ink-Stained Classics

For this issue, I’ll just be focussing on 20 English words that originate from Latin. Although Latin may not be a language that is studied for the purpose of being spoken, it is a language that allows your English vocabulary to just keep on growing. Here are some words that you may or may not know, but do have their roots from Latin. There are about 51,000 Latin-origin words in English!

English: Cupidity 

Latin: cupere= to desire

Definition: greed for money or possessions

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English: Judicial  

Latin: judicium= judgement 

Definition: of, by, or appropriate to a court 

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English: Variegated 

Latin: varius= diverse

Definition: varied, various 

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English: Acumen

Latin: acumen= sharpness, point

Definition: the ability to make good judgements

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English: Putative  

Latin: putat= thought

Definition: supposed

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English: Sentient   

Latin: sentient= diverse

Definition: feeling

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English: Despair  

Latin: de=down from, sperare= to hope

Definition: down from hope 

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English: Equivocate   

Latin: aequivocat= called by the same name

Definition: to call equally 

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English: Dubious   

Latin: dubium= a doubt 

Definition: varied, various 

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English: Acrimony   

Latin: acer,acri= pungent

Definition: bitterness, sharpness

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English: Cogent  

Latin: co= together, agere= drive

Definition: convincing 

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English: Proscribe   

Latin: pro= in front of, scribere= to write

Definition: to outlaw/ ban

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English: Jurisprudence 

Latin: jur=law, prudentia= knowledge 

Definition: prudence of the laws 

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English: Magnum Opus 

Latin: magnum opus= great work 

Definition: large work of art 

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English: Incarcerate 

Latin: in= into, carcer= prison

Definition: imprison or confine 

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English: Ameliorate 

Latin: melior= better

Definition: to better, to improve

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English: Equestrian   

Latin: eques = horseman 

Definition: relating to horse riding

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English: Vociferous 

Latin: varius= diverse

Definition: bringing voice to 

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English: Pernicious 

Latin: perniciosus= destructive

Definition: having a harmful effect 

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English: Injurious   

Latin: injuria= a wrong 

Definition: against the law