corporalis
[kɔr.pɔˈraː.lɪs]
The English phrase "corporal" is translated into Latin as corporalis.
corporalis is the Neo-Latin name of the rank. In the Roman army the nearest equivalent was the decanus, who led a tent group of eight to ten soldiers.
Meaning: military rank (noun)
Did you know?
- The word corpus also describes a collection of writings, such as a 'corpus of literature', because a body of text is seen as a single physical entity.
- The English rank 'corporal' came through French from Italian caporale ('head man') and was later reshaped under the influence of corps, 'body'.
- The root of corporalis is also the ancestor of 'corporation', where a group of people is treated as a single 'body' of individuals.
Examples in context
- Prima facie, haec est corporalis poena.At first glance, this is a corporal punishment.
- Is est corporalis in exercitu.He is a corporal in the army.
- Corporalis novus est.The corporal is new.
Example conversation
Aurelia and Marcus are discussing the army's organization.
- AureliaVisne novum corporalem videre?Do you want to see the new corporal?
- MarcusIta, ubi est?Yes, where is he?
- AureliaCorporalis Titus in castris est.Corporal Titus is in the camp.
- MarcusEum nunc visitemus.Let us visit him now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry corporalis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries corporalis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
