Special Sub-Topic: From Latin to English Click Here To Play: From Latin to English

What does the word "olfactory" mean, and what Latin word is it derived from? What is the Latin word's meaning?

relating to smell - olfactorius - relating to smell. Olfactorius is a Latin adjective, with the usual -us, -a, -um endings. It means 'nose-gay'. It wasn't actually used in Ancient times. It inspired an English word, olfactorious, which olfactory came from. The word olfactorius comes from the fourth principal part of olfacere (to smell), which is olfactus. That word came from olere, to give off a smell, and facere, to make.

Your English word is "imbibe". What is its defintition, what Latin word does it come from, and what do they mean?

to drink; imbibo, imbibere-- to drink in. In Latin, imbibo literally means to drink in, absorb, or inhale. It was first used in English around 1386 AD. It may have be derived from the Old French word embiber, which means to soak in.

What Latin word(s) does "dormitory" come from? What do they mean? What is the literal definition of "dormitory"?

place to sleep- dormitorius, -a, -um-- for sleeping. Dormitory does actually mean a place for sleeping. In modern American English it is also used to denote a place where students live while at college. Dormitorius is a first and second declension adjective. It is derived from the verb 'dormire', which means to sleep.

What does the word "duke" mean, and what Latin word is it derived from? What is the Latin word's meaning?

nobleman; dux, ducis-- leader. Dux, ducis is a third declension Latin noun that shares an ancestor with Latin verb ducere, to lead. Duke refers to a high-ranking nobleman. (Note also 'Il Duce'). It may have reached English from the Old French word duc.

What is the definition of servant? What is the Latin word that it comes from, and what does the Latin mean?

a person who works for another; servus-- slave. Most wealthy Romans had slaves, many of whom were former prisoners of war from barbarian European lands. Some of the owners were cruel, but others were fond of their slaves, and treated them kindly. The word servant was also a French word.

What is "filial"'s definition? What Latin word does it come from, and what is the meaning of the Latin?

of a son or daughter; filia/filius--daughter/son. In ancient Roman times, sons were valued much more highly than daughters. In fact, males in general were valued more. Filial means of a son or daughter. "Filial love" is the love of a son or daughter.

Habitat- What is its definition, and what Latin word does it come from? What is that word's meaning?

natural home; habito, habitare-- to live. What a species' habitat is is where it is naturally found in the wild. A lion's habitat is the savannah; a polar bear's is the Arctic. The word habitare itself came from the word habere, to hold or have.

What does the word "legible" mean, and what Latin word is it derived from? What is the Latin word's meaning?

readable; lego, legere-- to read. Legible and illegible both come from legere. Illegible means unreadable. Often, legible is used as neat, especially when referring to handwriting. Near the end of the time Latin was used, there was a Latin adjective, legibiilis, which means the same time as legible.

What does the word "petition" mean, and what Latin word is it derived from? What is the Latin word's meaning? Think of petition as a verb.

to request or question; peto, petere-- to seek. Generallly, we think of 'petition' as a noun. Some people aren't aware that 'petition' can even be used as a verb. You often hear it regarding a lawyer's request to a court. 'The lawyer petitioned the court to lower bail'. The Latin word petitio also helped this word along.

What does the word "amiable" mean, and what Latin word does it come from? What is the Latin word's meaning?

likable; amicabilis-- friendly. Many words, in all different languages, come from 'amo'. 'Amor' is love in Spanish and Portuguese, and amour is love in French. Amore is Italian. The Latin word for friend, amicus, came from it, and from that came the word amicabilis.