-trum

See also: trùm

Latin

Alternative forms

• -culum, -crum

Etymology

In inherited words, from Proto-Italic *-trom, from Proto-Indo-European *-trom. In words borrowed from Greek (and possibly in some neologisms), from Ancient Greek -τρον (-tron, instrument noun suffix), with the same ultimate origin.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /trum/, [t̪rʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /trum/, [t̪rum]

Suffix

-trum n (genitive -trī); second declension

1. forming instrument nouns

Usage notes

The more generally productive form of the instrument noun suffix in Latin was -culum. In general, the suffix is found in the form -trum only when the directly preceding sound is /s/, or when the stem contains /r/ or /l/ (in any position). In later Italic or Latin formations, the form -culum is frequently found after stems containing /r/, and its dissimilated form -crum can be found after stems containing /l/.

There is at least one recorded neologism formed in Classical times, spectrum, first attested in a pair of letters between Cicero and Cassius Longinus, where it is implied that Catius created the word as a translation of the Greek philosophical term εἴδωλον (eídōlon).

In New Latin, -trum has attained greater productivity as a means of forming neuter instrument nouns, partly influenced by analogy with the masculine agent noun suffix -tor and the use of its derivatives to form certain inanimate nouns in modern languages. For example, the New Latin terms computātrum and ōrdinātrum have been coined for 'computer' in correspondence with words such as Spanish computador and French ordinateur.

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	-trum	-tra
Genitive	-trī	-trōrum
Dative	-trō	-trīs
Accusative	-trum	-tra
Ablative	-trō	-trīs
Vocative	-trum	-tra

Derived terms

Latin terms suffixed with -trum