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List of Latin honorifics
Latin language was lingua franca in Europe for a long time. Below is a list of Latin honorifics and their abbreviations found in various texts, not necessary Latin.[1]
Certain honorifics may be prepended with the intensive prefix prae-, indicating very high degree, e.g., praepotens (very powerful), as well as used in superlative form, such as clarissimus, and even constructed by the combination of the two lexical devices, as in exellens (eminent, worthy) -> praexcellens -> praexellentissimum.[2]
| abbreviation
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Latin
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translation
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usage and notes
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| c.
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circumspectus
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well-considered,[3] prudent, remarkable [4]
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|
| c. mg.
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circumspectus magister
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well-considered master
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|
| c. v.
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circumspectus vir
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well-considered man
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|
|
|
clarissimus
|
most distinguished
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Used for late Roman officials of "entry level" senatorial rank, for provincial governors and lesser officials of the
comitatus [5]
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| d.
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discretus, discreta
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from "discerno"; illustrious, distinguished[6]
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|
| d. v.
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discretus vir
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distinguished man
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|
| e.
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egregius
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distinguished, eminent[7]
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In the meaning "superior" it was also used as a honorific title for emperors[7]
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| e. mg.
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egregius magister
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distinguished master
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|
| e. n.
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egregius et nobilis
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distinguished and noble
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|
| e. v.
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egregius vir
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distinguished man
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|
| f. v.
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fidedignus vir
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faithful, trustworthy man (fides + dignus, "worthy of faith")
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|
| g.
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generosus, generosa
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|
|
| g. m.
|
generosus et magnificus,
generosa et magnifica
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|
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| hon.
|
honestus, honesta
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|
|
| h.
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honorabilis
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|
|
| h. mg.
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honorabilis magister
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|
|
| h. v.
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honorabilis vir
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|
|
| i.
|
illustris, illustrisimus,
illustrisima
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|
|
| i.v.
|
idoneus vir
|
proper man
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|
|
|
inlustris
|
illustrious
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Used for late Roman officials of the highest rank: praetorian and urban prefects, Masters of Soldiers, and members of the comitatus[5]
|
| m.
|
magnificus
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|
|
| m. e. v.
|
magnificus et egregius vir
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|
|
| m. v.
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magnificus vir
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|
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| n.
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nobilis
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|
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| n. e.
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nobilis et egreguis
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|
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| n. g. v.
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nobilis et generosus vir
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|
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| n. h.
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nobilis et honestus/honesta
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|
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| n. mg.
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nobilis magister
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|
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| n. s. mg.
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nobilis et strenuus magister
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|
|
| n. v.
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nobilis vir
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|
|
| p.
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providus
|
prudent[8]
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|
| p. hon.
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providus et honestus
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prudent and honest
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|
|
| p. v.
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providus vir
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prudent man
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French prud'-homme is a calque of p.v.[9]
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| p. i.
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probus et idoneus
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honest and proper
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| pot. m.
|
potens vir et magnificus
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|
|
| pr.
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prudens
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|
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| pr. c.
|
prudens et circumspectus
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|
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| pr. v.
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prudens vir
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|
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| r.
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reverendus,
reverendissimus
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|
|
| rel.
|
religiosus, religiosa
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|
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| rel. v.
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religiosus vir
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|
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| sap.
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sapiens
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|
|
|
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spectabilis
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respectable
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Used for late Roman officials of middle rank, such as proconsuls, counts, dukes, and vicars[5]
|
| s. m.
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spectabilis et magnificus
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|
|
| str. m.
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strenuus miles
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|
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| str. mg.
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strenuus magister
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| v.
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venerabilis
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|
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| v. d.
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venerabilis et deodevotus
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| v. e.
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venerabilis et egregius
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References
- ^ Végh András, Buda város középkori helyrajza 2. (Monumenta Historica Budapestinensia, vol. 16, Budapesti Történeti Múseum, Budapest, 2008), p. 9, "Rövidítések" ("Abbreviations")
- ^ English Historical Linguistics 2006: Lexical and semantic change, p.39
- ^ Charlton Thomas Lewis; Charles [Lancaster] Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, "circumspectus
- ^ Félix Gaffiot (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette, p. 317, "circumspectus"
- ^ a b c Ralph Mathisen, "Imperial Honorifics and Senatorial Status in Late Roman Legal Documents", in: Law, Society, and Authority in Late Antiquity, Oxford University Press, 2001, 179-207
- ^ Gaffiot, p. 537, p. 535
- ^ a b Gaffiot, p. 577
- ^ Gaffiot, p. 1267
- ^ The Travels of Marco Polo: The Complete Yule-Cordier Edition, p.66
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