ignavus
The English word coward is translated into Latin as ignavus.
ignavus is used to describe a person who lacks courage. It is often used to denote a lack of character or strength when contrasted with qualities such as being brave or strong.
Meaning: a person who lacks courage (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term ignavus literally conveys a sense of being lazy, spiritless, idle or lacking vigor, which forms the root of its meaning as a coward.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a noun to mean 'cowards' in the masculine plural nominative, the form is ignavi.
Did you know?
- While ignavus describes a lack of spirit, the Romans used the word timidus for someone who is simply afraid. A person could be timidus without being an ignavus.
- Roman writers often used ignavus to describe people who avoided political or civic duty. In this context, cowardice was viewed as a failure of citizenship.
- The word ignavus is a compound of 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'gnāvus' meaning 'industrious' or 'active'. To a Roman, being a coward was fundamentally a failure of energy rather than just a failure of nerve.
Examples in context
- Millies moritur ignavus, semel heros perit.A coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero dies but one.This sentence illustrates the concept of a coward using ignavus.Tatoeba #10973846 by carlosalberto, translation #7264412 by Hybrid
- Marcus est pusillanimusMarcus is a coward
- Ille est tremulusHe is a coward
- Ignavus est qui timet bellum.A coward is one who fears war.
- Te ignavum esse non oportet.You ought not to be a coward.
Example conversation
Lucia and Gaius are discussing a soldier's fear.
- LuciaCur Gaius non currit ad hostem?Why does Gaius not run toward the enemy?
- GaiusFortasse is est ignavus.Perhaps he is a coward.
- LuciaNon credo, timor est naturalis.I don't believe so, fear is natural.
- GaiusSed ignavus numquam vincit.But a coward never wins.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ignavus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
