croceus

See also: Croceus

Latin

Alternative forms

• crocceus

Etymology

From crocum (“saffron”) +‎ -eus (“-eous”)

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈkrɔ.ke.ʊs]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈkrɔː.t͡ʃe.us]

Adjective

croceus (feminine crocea, neuter croceum); first/second-declension adjective

1. (relational) saffron
   • 77 CE – 79 CE, Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia X.LXVIII.134:

     […] , et praecipua sapore lagopus. Pedes leporino villo nomen hoc dedere cetero candidae, columbarum magnitudine. Non extra terram eam vesci facile, quando nec vita mansuescit et corpus ocissime marcescit. Est et alia nomine eodem, a coturnicibus magnitudine tantum differens, croceo unctu cibis gratissima.

     […] , the lagopus (ptarmigan) is of culinary notice too. It derives its name from the appearance of its feet, they seem to be covered with hare's fur, it is otherwise white and the size of a dove. It is no easy task having them from their native country to our plate, as they would be taken lifeless and their body wither but too fast. Another bird is known by this name, only different from the quail by its size, it makes for a delicious dish with saffron sauce.

2. yellow or red in color like saffron

   Synonym: lūteus

   • c. 37 BCE – 30 BCE, Virgil, Georgics 4.109–111:

     Invitent croceis halantes floribus horti
     Et custos furum atque avium cum falce saligna
     Hellespontiaci servet tutela Priapi.

     May gardens, fragrant with yellow flower, lure them [the bees] and Hellespontian Priap with his willow scythe the robbing bee and the birds keep away.

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

	singular				plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	croceus	crocea	croceum		croceī	croceae	crocea
genitive	croceī	croceae	croceī		croceōrum	croceārum	croceōrum
dative	croceō	croceae	croceō		croceīs
accusative	croceum	croceam	croceum		croceōs	croceās	crocea
ablative	croceō	croceā	croceō		croceīs
vocative	crocee	crocea	croceum		croceī	croceae	crocea

Derived terms

• Croceus

Descendants

• → Italian: croceo
• → Portuguese: cróceo

See also

Colors in Latin · colōrēs (layout · text)

albus, candidus, cānus, marmoreus (poetic), eburneus (poetic), niveus (poetic), argenteus (poetic), lacteus (poetic)	rāvus, pullus, mūrīnus (of livestock)	niger, āter, furvus, fuscus ("swarthy"), piceus (poetic)
ruber, russus, rūbidus (dark), flammeus (poetic); rutilus, pūniceus, spādīx (poetic), sanguineus (poetic)	rūfus, rutilus, rōbus (of oxen), croceus (poetic), aureus (poetic); fulvus (poetic), niger (of eyes), badius (of horses)	lūteus, flāvus ("blond"), lūridus, gilvus (of horses), helvus (of cattle); cēreus (poetic)
viridis, flāvus (poetic)	viridis, herbeus (of eyes), fulvus (poetic)	viridis, glaucus (poetic), caeruleus (poetic, only dark)
	glaucus (poetic), caeruleus, caesius (of eyes)	caeruleus, līvidus, ferrūgineus (poetic), glaucus (poetic)
violāceus	purpureus (underlying shade)	roseus

References

• “croceus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “croceus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "croceus", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “croceus”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.