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 Latin translation usage and notes
c. circumspectus well-considered,[3] prudent, remarkable [4]
c. mg. circumspectus magister well-considered master
c. v. circumspectus vir well-considered man
clarissimus most distinguished Used for late Roman officials of "entry level" senatorial rank, for provincial governors and lesser officials of the

comitatus [5]

d. discretus, discreta from "discerno"; illustrious, distinguished[6]
d. v. discretus vir distinguished man
e. egregius distinguished, eminent[7] In the meaning "superior" it was also used as a honorific title for emperors[7]
e. mg. egregius magister distinguished master
e. n. egregius et nobilis distinguished and noble
e. v. egregius vir distinguished man
f. v. fidedignus vir faithful, trustworthy man (fides + dignus, "worthy of faith")
g. generosus, generosa
g. m. generosus et magnificus,
generosa et magnifica
hon. honestus, honesta
h. honorabilis
h. mg. honorabilis magister
h. v. honorabilis vir
i. illustris, illustrisimus,
illustrisima
i.v. idoneus vir proper man
inlustris illustrious Used for late Roman officials of the highest rank: praetorian and urban prefects, Masters of Soldiers, and members of the comitatus[5]
m. magnificus
m. e. v. magnificus et egregius vir
m. v. magnificus vir
n. nobilis
n. e. nobilis et egreguis
n. g. v. nobilis et generosus vir
n. h. nobilis et honestus/honesta
n. mg. nobilis magister
n. s. mg. nobilis et strenuus magister
n. v. nobilis vir
p. providus prudent[8]
p. hon. providus et honestus prudent and honest
p. v. providus vir prudent man French prud'-homme is a calque of p.v.[9]
p. i. probus et idoneus honest and proper
pot. m. potens vir et magnificus
pr. prudens
pr. c. prudens et circumspectus
pr. v. prudens vir
r. reverendus,
reverendissimus
rel. religiosus, religiosa
rel. v. religiosus vir
sap. sapiens
spectabilis respectable Used for late Roman officials of middle rank, such as proconsuls, counts, dukes, and vicars[5]
s. m. spectabilis et magnificus
str. m. strenuus miles
str. mg. strenuus magister
v. venerabilis
v. d. venerabilis et deodevotus
v. e. venerabilis et egregius

References

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  1. ^ Végh András, Buda város középkori helyrajza 2. (Monumenta Historica Budapestinensia, vol. 16, Budapesti Történeti Múseum, Budapest, 2008), p. 9, "Rövidítések" ("Abbreviations")
  2. ^ English Historical Linguistics 2006: Lexical and semantic change, p.39
  3. ^ Charlton Thomas Lewis; Charles [Lancaster] Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, "circumspectus
  4. ^ Félix Gaffiot (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette, p. 317, "circumspectus"
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ Gaffiot, p. 537, p. 535
  7. ^ a b Gaffiot, p. 577
  8. ^ Gaffiot, p. 1267
  9. ^ The Travels of Marco Polo: The Complete Yule-Cordier Edition, p.66
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