torvus

Latin

Etymology

Of disputed origin; proposed derivations include:

• From Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- (“to cut”), a root common to Ancient Greek σάρξ (sárx, “meat, flesh”) and Latin trux (“wild, ferocious”).
• From Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to squeeze; push; press”), the same root of English threat, Latin trudō (“I thrust”), Ancient Greek τάρβος (tárbos, “terror; awe”) and Welsh tarfu (“to scare away”).
• From Proto-Indo-European *terkʷ- (“to turn”). Cognates include Latin torqueō (“I wind, twist”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈtor.u̯us/, [ˈt̪ɔru̯ʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈtor.vus/, [ˈt̪ɔrvus]

Adjective

torvus (feminine torva, neuter torvum); first/second-declension adjective

1. savage, fierce, harsh, stern
2. pitiless, grim

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number	Singular				Plural
Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	torvus	torva	torvum		torvī	torvae	torva
Genitive	torvī	torvae	torvī		torvōrum	torvārum	torvōrum
Dative	torvō		torvō		torvīs
Accusative	torvum	torvam	torvum		torvōs	torvās	torva
Ablative	torvō	torvā	torvō		torvīs
Vocative	torve	torva	torvum		torvī	torvae	torva

Descendants

• English: torvous
• French: torve
• Portuguese: torvo

References

• “torvus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “torvus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• torvus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.