custos
[ˈkʊs.toːs]
The Latin word for guardian is custos.
In a legal context, a guardian refers to a person who is legally responsible for a minor in loco parentis.
Meaning: law: person legally responsible for a minor in loco parentis (noun)
Which one should you use?
While custos is the standard term, tutor is used specifically in legal or educational contexts to refer to a guardian who holds legal authority or guardianship over a person.
How does it change in a sentence?
custos is a masculine noun belonging to the third declension. Its nominative singular form is custos, and the genitive singular form used to indicate possession or relationship is custodis. The plural forms are custodi for the nominative plural and custodes for the plural. Related to this noun is the verb custodire. Its third-person singular present indicative form is custodit, meaning 'he/she/it guards'.
Did you know?
- The word custos shares a potential linguistic ancestor with the English word 'hoard'.
- In Latin, a custos can be a guardian of a person but also a 'guard' in a military or prison sense.
- The Latin word custos is gender-neutral in its use for a role although it follows masculine grammatical rules.
Examples in context
- Thomae custos sum.I'm Tom's guardian.This sentence demonstrates how to use the nominative singular form custos to state one's role as a guardian.Tatoeba #5077496 by alexmarcelo, translation #3815916 by CK
- Tutor meus omnes meos actus administrat et me protegit.My tutor manages all my affairs and protects me.
- Frater meus est defensor meus, qui semper me defendit et auxilium offert.My brother is my guardian, who always defends me and offers help.
- Custos pueri in tabulario scriptus est.The boy's guardian is written in the ledger.
Example conversation
Julia and Marcus are discussing the legal care of a child.
- JuliaQuis est custos infantis?Who is the child's guardian?
- MarcusMarcus custos est.Marcus is the guardian.
- JuliaEstne custos bonus?Is he a good guardian?
- MarcusIta, custos diligens est.Yes, he is a diligent guardian.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry custos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries custos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
