GSFA: Latin Words List
Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans
Latin Words
compiled by Etienne Elskens
ab intestato: without having left a testament
abatissa: abess
abavia: 2nd great grandmother, female ascendant in the fourth degree
abavus: 2nd great grandfather, male ascendant in the fourth degree
abbas: abbot
abbatia: abbey
abbatiola: small abbey
abenarius faber: boiler maker
abnepos: 2nd great grandson, male descendant in the fourth degree
abneptis: 2nd great granddaughter, female descendant in the fourth degree
adnepos: 3rd great grandson, male descendant in the fifth degree
abortivus: born prematurely
abrogatio: abolition of, giving up
accisor: receiver of taxes
acisclarius: stone cutter
actum ut supra: done as above
acupictor: embroiderer
ad perpetuam memoriam: in eternal memory
ad tempus: temporary
ad tempus vitae: lifelong
ad valorem: corresponding value, equivalent value
ad verbum: word for word
ad vitam: life annuity
ad vocem: by finding the word, at the word
adolescens: youth
adscriptus glebae: serf, (literally) belonging to the land
adulescens: youth
adulta: adult female
adultus: adult man
aetatis: at the age of
affines: relatives by marriage, in-laws
affinis: brother-in-law
affinitas: relationship by marriage
ager: field
agnati: paternal relations
agnatus: related by blood on the father's side
agnomen: surname, nickname
agricultura: agriculture
alias: alias, otherwise called
alimenta/o: provision made for made for younger sons or unmarried daughters
alius/a/ud: other
alter/era/erum: the other of two
allutarius: chamois-dresser
amens: insane, mad
ambo/ae/o: both
amita: father's sister, aunt
amita magna: grandfather's sister, grandaunt
amita major: sister of great-grandfather
amita maxima: sister of great-great-grandfather
amitini: brother's, sister's children
amita uxoris: wife's father's sister
ampullarius: bottle maker
ancellator: birdcatcher
ancilla: maid, handmaid
ancilla nutriens: wet nurse
anima: soul, spirit
annus: year
anno: in the year
anno aetatis (suae) ...: at the age of
anno Domini: in the year of the Lord
annonarius: corn dealer
ante: before
ante diem pridie: yesterday
ante meridiem: fore-noon
apiarius: bee-master, apiarist
apoplexia: stroke, seizure
apricator: bleacher
aquaductus: aqueduct, waterworks
aquaticus: living by the water
arbor consanguinitatis: family tree
arborator: nurseryman
arcularius: carpenter, furniture maker
argentarius: silver smith, banker
armentarius: cattle drover
artifex: artist
astrologus: astrologist
atavia: grandmother of the great-grandmother
atavus: 3rd great grandfather, male ascendant in the fifth degree
atnepos: grandson of the great-grandson
atneptis: granddaughter of the great-granddaughter
aurifaber: goldsmith
avia: grandmother
avunculus: mother's brother, uncle
avunculus magnus: grandmother's brother
avi (pl.): grandparents
avi relicta: grandfather's widow
avus: grandfather
avus maternus: grandfather on mother's side
avus paternus: grandfather on father's side
banni: marriage banns
baptisma: baptism
baptisavit: he baptized
baptisatus/a: baptized
baptisatus/a est: he(or she) was baptized
baptizata: baptized (female)
baptizatus: baptized (male)
barbitonsor: beard shaver
beneficium abstinendi: children's right to refuse the inheritance
beneficium inventarii: prerogative of the inventory, accepted inheritance with debts
benevole lector: benevolent reader
bibliopola: bookseller
bidellus: hangman's assistant
bona hereditaria: family inheritance
bona materna: property on mother's side
bona minorum: property coming to minors
bona paterna: property on father's side
botularius: sausage maker
braxator: brewer
bubulcus: oxen drover
bucinator: trumpeter, horn blower
burdonarius: beast of burden drover
caelator: metal carver, engraver
caelator ferrarius: metal cutter
caelator gemmarum: gemmologist, gemstone carver
caelator monetarum: coin die cutter
caelator typorum: letter cutter
calcarius: nail smith
caelebs: single, unmarried (man)
cambitor: money-changer
candelarum artifex: candle-maker
cantrifex: pewterer
cantrifusor: pewterer
capellani: chaplains
capellanus: chaplain
capitagium: capital tax, head tax
caponator: innkeeper
carnifex: butcher
catabolensis: cargo driver
catharro: cold (in the head)
causa mortis: cause of death
celebs: unmarried, single
cellarius: cellarman
censuaris: long-lease tenant
census hereditas: long-lease tenant
clericus scabinorum: alderman's clerk, sheriff's clerk
cocus: cook
coelebs: unmarried, single
cognati: maternal relations:
cognatus: blood relative on father's side
cognomen: surname
comes: count (earl in England)
comitissa: countess
commater: godmother
comparere: to appear
comparuit pro me: he/she appeared before me
compater: godfather
compositor calopodiorum: boot tree maker
conceptus/a/um: conceived
concepta est: she was pregnant
concubinatus: free servant
confamiliaris: someone who belongs to the family
coniunx (coniux): husband or wife
coniuges (pl.): married couple
conjugium: marriage
conjux: spouse
consanguinitas: blood relationship (if too close, an impediment to marriage)
consobrinus/a: cousin on the mother's side
consocer: fellow father in law
contrahere: to contract, to draw together
matrimonium contraxerunt: they contracted marriage
coparcener: co-heir
copulatio: marriage
copulatus/a: married man/woman
copulatus/a est: he/she was married
coram: in the presence of
coram judice: before the judge
coram notario et testibus: before the notary and witnesses
cujus: of whom
corpus: body
cultrarius: knife maker
cum: with
cumulare:
cuparius: cooper
custos: guard
cyrothecarius: glove maker
decessit: he/she died
decessit sine prole: died without issue, childless
decessit vitae patre (d.v.p.): died in father's lifetime
decessus: death
decollatus: beheaded
defunctus/a/um: dead
deinde: afterwards, further, next
denarium: dinar ? some type of coin
denunciatio: publication of the marriage banns
factis tribus denunciationibus: after 3 publications of the banns, 3 banns having been published
desponsus/a: betrothed
Deus: God
dicto loco: at said place
dictus: named
didymus/a: twin male/female
dies: day
die: day (a form used after certain prepositions)
dies feriatus: feast day, market day
dies jovis: Thursday
dies lunae: Monday
dies majalis: Mayday
dies martis: Tuesday
dies mercurii: Wednesday
dies natalis: birthday
dies saturni: Saturday
dies solis: Sunday
dies veneris: Friday
discessit: he/she died
dissolutio conjugi: divorce
diuturnus: long term, of long standing
divortatus: divorced
divorti sententia: divorce verdict
divortium: divorce
domicella: maiden
dominus: lord
dominus loci: master (lord) of the place (town)
domus: home
dos: dowry
ducissa: duchess
ecclesia: church
eleemosynarius: chaplain
ego: I
eiusdem: the same
eodem die: on the same day
erat: he/she/it was
est: he/she/it is
et: and
etiam: also
ex: from
ex altera (parte): along the other side
ex una (parte): along the one side
exitus: exit, decease, pass away
expositicius: expose a child, laid as a foundling
expositus: foundling
faber: tradesman
faber armorum: armourer, weapon maker
faber ferramentarius: shoeing-smith, farrier
faber ferrarius: smith
faber grossarius: iron smith, blacksmith
faber laminarius: tinsmith
faber lignarius: carpenter
factor cordarum: rope-maker
factor sporcarum: spur maker, railroad track maker
famulus: servant, clerk
famulus (a): man servant, maid
febri malignae: from a bad fever
febris: fever
feme covert: married woman
feme sole: unmarried woman
femina: woman
feodalia: feudal estates
ferrarius-faber ferrarius: smith
fideiussor: godfather
filia: daughter
filia fratris/sororis: niece, daugher of brother/sister
filia innupta: unwed daughter
filius: son
filius fratris/sororis: nephew, son of brother/sister
frater: brother
frater ex materno latere: half-brother common mother
frater ex paterno latere: half-brother common father
frater germanus: twin brother
frater naturalis: brother of the same father and mother
fratres consanguini: brothers of the same father and different mother
fratres gemelli: twin brothers
fratres germani: brothers of the same father and mother
fratres uterini: brothers of the same mother and different father
fuit: he/she/it was
fuerunt: they were
fusor aurichalci: bronze pourer, brass founder
fusor campanarum: bell founder
fusor pottorum stanneorum: tin pot founder, potter
fusor typorum: type founder
gemellus/a: twin brother, twin sister
gemelli: twin brothers
geminus/a: twin
gener: son-in-law, cousin
geniculum: equal
genitores: parents (begetters)
gens: gender
genitum: begotten, born
gens: male line, clan
genus: type, kind, birth, descent, sex, origin, class, race
generis: of the type, sex, etc.
germana: sister , also female cousin of brother or sister
germanus: brother or nephew
glos: husband's sister
gloris: brother's wife
gravida: pregnant
habere: to have, to hold
habitare: to reside
habitans: resident (adj.)
habitantes: residents
hebdomada: a week
heri: yesterday
hic, haec, hoc: this
hoba: farm
hoc anno: this year
hoc die/mense/anno: on this day/month/year
hoc tempore: this time
huius: of this
humatio: burial
homo: man, human being
humatus/a: he/she was buried
hydropicus: dropsical
hydrops: dropsy
ibidem (ibid.): in the same place
idem, eadem, iden: the same
ignotus/a: unknown
ille, illa illud: that
ilius: of that
illegitimus: illegitimate
impedimentum: impediment or hindrance (as to a marriage)
impedimentum consanguinitas: impediment of too close a blood relationship (2nd cousin or closer)
nulloque detecto impedimento matrimonio: and no marital impediment having been uncovered
imponere: to place upon, to impose
impositus/a/um: imposed, placed upon, given
cui impositum est nomen: to whom was given the name
in eodem domo: in the same house
in margine: in the border (margin) of a page
in solidum: each per capita responsible
incestum: incest
infans: infant
infirmus: ill, invalid, infirm
infra: below, later
infrascriptus: written below
innocens: silly, stupid, simple
instant, inst.: of the current month
intimare: cite, summons, subpoena
inuptus/a: unmarried
intra: within
inventitus: foundling
inventus: found
inventus: foundling
ipse/a/um: himself/herself/itself
ita: thus, so
ita est: so it is
item: also, likewise
iterum: again, once again
iunior/junior: younger
iure/jure: legally
iurare/jurare: to swear, take an oath
ius/jus, iures/jures: law, laws
iuvenis/juvenis: young person, young man
latrina: bathroom
lavare: to wash, to baptize
lautus/a est: he/she was baptized
levantes: godparents
levir: husband's brother
liber, libri: book, books
liber baptizatorum: baptismal register
liber defunctorum: death register
liber matrimoniorm: marriage register
ligatus: husband, spouse
ligatus/a est: he/she was joined or married
locus: place
locus sigilli: where a persons seal is placed (on a document)
lude magister: school teacher
magistratus: magistrate
majordomus: head steward
majorennis: of legal age
majores: ancestors
mane: in the morning
mansionarius: owner and occupant of a house, farm
mansus: farm with approximately 12 hectares of land
manu propria: (signed) in one's own hand
marita: wife, married lady
maritus: husband, married man
mater: mother
mater meretrix: mother of illegitimate child
materna: godmother
matertera: maternal aunt , mother's sister
matertera magna: sister of the grandmother
matertera major: sister of the great-grandmother, great-grand aunt
matertera maxima: sister of the great-great-grandmother, great-great-grand aunt
matricularius: verger, sextop, originally the registrar in the church registers
matrimonium: marriage
matrimus: whose mother is still alive
matrina: godmother
matris soror: mother's sister
matrona: housmother, housekeeper
matruelis: male son of mother's sister
membrana: parchment
membranarius: parchment maker
mendicus: beggar, very poor
mensa pauperum: poor table, holy ghost table
mensis: month
mense: in the month (of)
meridies: noon
minimus/a natu: youngest
meus/a/um: my, mine
molendinarius: miller
molendinus: miller
molitor: builder, fabricator, miller
morbus: disease
post longum morbum: after a long illness
mors: death
mortis: of death
mortuus/a/um: dead, deceased
mortuus/a est: he/she died
mulier: woman, wife
murator: mason
mutuo consensu: by mutual consent
nascit: he/she is born
natalis: natal
natus/a: born (adj.), son/daughter (noun)
natus/a est: he/she was born
nepos: grandson, nephew
nepos ex fil: grandson
nepos ex fratre: brother's son
nepos ex sorore: sister's son
neptis: granddaughter
nocte: at night
nomen: name
noverca: stepmother
novercus: stepfather
nullus/a/um: no, none
nunc tutus exitus computarus/a: safe exit
nuncupatio: verbal naming of the heir
nuptus/a: married
nurus/a: son's wife
obiit: he/she died
obiit subito: suddenly deceased
obstetrix: midwife
obtinere: acquire
omnis: all, every
operarius: laborer (unschooled)
orbus/a: orphan masc./fem
origo: birth
originis: of the birth
ortus: origin, birth
oves: sheep
paralysia: paralysis
parentes: parents
parochia: parish
parochus: parish priest
pars: part
partus: childbirth
pater: father
pater denomintus: named father
pater ignoratus: unknown father
pater nescitur: the father is not known
pater patris: grandfather on father's side
pater praevignus sponsae: stepfather of the bride
pater sine nomine: anonymous father
pater sponsae: father of the bride
pater suppositus: supposedly father
paternus: godfather
patrini: godfather and godmother at the baptism of a child
patrinus: godfather
patrinus/a/i: godfather/godmother/godparents
patris soror: father's sister
patrueles: children whereof the fathers are brothers
patrueles magni: nephews whereof both grandfathers are brothers
patruelis: nephew, uncle, father's brother
patruerlis: paternal nephew
patrui relicta: paternal uncle's widow
patruus: paternal uncle
patruus magnus: granduncle, brother of the grandfather
patruus maximus: brother of the great-great grandfather
pecora: calf birthing
pelliceum: fur undervest
per procurationem: by power of attorney
percussa: beaten
phreneticus: lunatic, madman
phtisia: expense, pulmonary illness, tuberculosis
pie: piously
piscator: fisherman
pistor: baker
pistrix: woman baker
podesta: bailiff
podestessa: wife of the bailiff
portanus: porter, doorman
post: after
post hominem memoriam: of people's memory
posthuma: girl born after the death of the father
posthumus: boy born after the death of the father
postridie: on the day after
pridie: on the day before
primogenitus: first born
priores: ancestors
privigna: stepdaughter
privignus: stepson
pro: in behalf of, for
pro se et suis: for him and his
proauctor: ancestor, progenitor
proavia: great-grandmother
proava: great-grandmother
proavus: great-grandfather
proclamatio: bann, decree
progener: husband of the granddaughter
proles: issue, child, descendants
proles spuria: illegitimate child
pronepos: great-grandson
proneptis: great-granddaughter
proneptus: grand niece
prope: near
propinqui: relations, relatives
prorare vexilla: patriotic
prosocer: grand father-in-law
prosocrus: wife's grandmother
provincia: province
proximo, prox.: of the next month
proximus consanguineus: nearest relation
pubertas: puberty, marriageable, of age
pudicus/a: chaste
puella: girl
puellula: young girl
puellus: young boy, youth
puer: boy, child
puerpera: booth woman
puerperia (in _): in child labor
puerperium: childbirth
purgatus/a: cleansed, baptized
quasi: almost, as if
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what
quidam, quaedam: a certain person (masc./fem.)
quoddam: a certain thing
quondam: formerly, sometime, the late (someone who died)
relicta: widow
relictus: widower
renatus/a: reborn, baptized
requiescat in pace: may he or she rest in peace
ritus: rite
de ritu sanctae matris ecclesiae: according to the rite of the holy mother church
sacellani: chaplains
sacerdos: priest
sacer, sacra, sacrum: sacred
sacramentis totis munitus/a: fortified by all the last rites
sanctus/a/um: holy,sacred
scabinus: alderman, sheriff
scorta: unmarried mother, whore
scriptus/a/um: written
semper: always, forever
senescalus: court-marshal
senex: old, aged
senexadolescens: old bachelor
senior: older
sepelire: to bury
septimana: week
sepultus/a/um: buried
sequens: following
servitutes rerum: inheritance services
sic: thus, so
signum: mark
signum fecit: he/she made a mark, signed
sine: without
sine die: without a date
sobrinus: cousin
socer: father-in-law
socrus: mother-in-law
socrus magna: maternal grandmother
solemnicatio: marriage
soluta: unmarried woman, free, licentious
solutus: unmarried man, free, licdentious
soror: sister
sororius: brother-in-law (sister's husband)
sponsa: fiancee,bride
sponsalia: marriage banns
sponsalis: betrothed (adj.)
sponsus: groom, spouse, betrothed
spuria: natural female child
spurius: natural male child
statim: immediately, now
stemma (gentile): pedigree
stuprata: pregnant out of wedlock
stuprator: father of illegitimate child
sub tutela: under guardianship
subitanea morte: suddenly pass away
subitarius: hurriedly
subito: suddenly
subito defuncta: suddenly deceased
subitus: sudden
subscripsit: he/she signed
subsignavit: he/she signed with a mark
sum: I am
sunt: they are
superior dominus: feudal lord
supra: above
ut supra: as above
susceptor: godfather
susceptores: godparents
susceptrix: godmother
suus/a/um: his/her/its/their own
tabes: plague, tuberculosis
tabum: plague, infectious disease
tector domorum: roofer
tector laterum: tile roofer, tile layer
tector straminium: straw roofer, thatcher
tempus: time
testamentum: will, testament
testes: witnesses
testis: witness
toparcha: lord of the manor
triduum: a period of three days
trigemini: triplets
trinepos: son of the grandson of the great-grandson
trineptis: daughter of the grandson of the great-grandson
tritavus: grandfather of the great-great-grandfather
tutor: guardian
ubi: where
ultimo, ult.: of the preceeding month
ultimus/a/um: last
unigena: only begotten daughter
unigenius: only begotten son
urbs: city
ut: as, so that, in order that
ut infra: as below
ut supra: as above
uxor: wife
vaginarum confector: weapon scabbard maker
vagus: vagabond
variolis: smallpox
vel (vel...vel): or (either....or)
vespere: - in the evening
vetula: old woman
vetulus: old man
vetus, veteris: old
victricus: stepfather
vidua: widow
viduam relinquens: left behind as widow
viduum relinquens: left behind as widower
viduus: widower
videlicet (viz.): namely
villa: farm, villa
villica: housekeeper
villicus: farmer, bailiff, sheriff, overseer
vir: man, male
virgo: virgin, female, girl
virtuosus/a/um: honorable
vita: life
vita cessit: he/she departed from life, died
vitrarius: glass blower
vitricus: stepfather
vitripictor: glass painter
vulgo: commonly, generally
vulgo vocatus: nicknamed, surnamed, alias
Also useful are the months and numbers for interpreting dates and ages.
Months: Januarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Iulius or Quinctilis, Augustus, September (VII-ber or 7-ber), October (VIII-ber or 8-ber), November (lX-ber or 9-ber), December (X-ber or 10-ber)
| Numbers | Cardinal | Ordinal | Age
|
|---|
| 1 | unus/a/um primus/a/um | primus |
|
| 2 | duo,duae,duo secundus/a/um | secundus |
|
| 3 | tres, tria tertius/a/um | tertius |
|
| 4 | quattuor quartus/a/um | quartus |
|
| 5 | quinque quintus/a/um | quintus |
|
| 6 | sex sextus/a/um | sextus |
|
| 7 | septem septimus/a/um | septimus |
|
| 8 | octo octavus/a/um | octavus |
|
| 9 | novem nonus/a/um | nonus |
|
| 10 | decem decimus | decimus | decennis
|
| 11 | undecim undecimus | undecimus |
|
| 12 | duodecim duodecimus | duodecimus |
|
| 13 | tredecim tertius decimus | tredecimus |
|
| 14 | quattordecim quartus decimus | quattuordecimus |
|
| 15 | quindecim quintus decimus | quindecimus |
| 16 | sedecim sextus decimus | sedecimus |
|
| 17 | septendecim septimus decimus | septemdecimus |
|
| 18 | duodeviginti duodevice(n)simus | octodecimus |
|
| 19 | unodeviginti unodevice(n)simus | nonus decimus |
|
| 20 | viginti vice(n)simus | vicesimus | vicenarius
|
| 21 | unus et viginta | vicesimus primus |
|
| 30 | triginta trice(n)simus tricenarius
| 40 | quadraginta quadrage(n)simus | quadragesimus | quadragenarius
| | 50 | quinquaginta quinquage(n)simus | quinquagesimus | quinquagenarius
| | 60 | sexaginta | sexagesimus | sexagenarius
| | 70 | septuaginta | septuagesimus | septuagenarius
| | 80 | octoaginta | octogesimus | octogenarius
| | 90 | nonaginta | nonagesimus | nonagenarius
| | 100 | centum | centesimus | centenarius
| | 200 | ducenti | ducentesimus |
| | 300 | trecenti | tricentesimus |
| | 400 | quadringenti | quadringentesimus |
| | 500 | quingenti | quingentesimus |
| | 600 | sescenti | sescentesimus |
| | 700 | septingenti | septingentesimus |
| | 800 | octingenti | octingentesimus |
| | 900 | nonagenti | nonagentesimus |
| | 1000 | mille | millesimus |
| | 1100 | mille centum | |
| | 1200 | mille ducenti | |
| | 1300 | mille trecenti | |
| | 1400 | mille quadringenti | |
| | 1500 | mille quingenti | |
| | 1600 | mille sescenti | |
| | 1700 | mille septingenti | |
| | 1800 | mille octingenti | |
| | 1900 | mille nonagenti | |
| | 2000 | duo mille | |
| |
ABREVIATIONS
7 ber: September
8 ber: October
9 ber: November
10ber: December
A.C.: Anno Christi - In the year of Christ
A.D.: Anno Domini - In the year of our Lord
Ao, AE, aE: anno year
B.M.: beate memoriae - of blessed memory
C: 100
ca: circa - about, around
D: 500
D.J.U.: doctor juris utriusque doctor - in both civil and church laws
fE, fo., fol.: folio - page
I, i: One
ib., ibid.: ibidem - at the same place
J, j: One
J.U.D.: juris utriusque doctor - doctor in both civil and church laws
J.U.L.: juris utriusque licentiatus - licensee in both civil and church laws
L: 50
M: 1000
ob.: obiit - deceased
Pbr.: Presbyter - priest
Q.Q.: qualitate qua - in capacity of
R.D.: Reverendus Dominus - Reverend Lord
R.I.P.: requiescat in pace - rest in peace
rE: recto: front page = r�
S.T.D. Sanctae Theologiae Doctor - Doctor in Theology
u.a.: ut ante - like before
u.i.: ut infra - like hereunder
u.s.: ut supra - like above
V: five
vE: verso - back page = v�
vid.: videatur, vide - see, one sees
X: ten
x-ber or X-ber: December
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