LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

acanthus

acanthus m (genitive acanthī)
Classical[aˈkan.tʰʊs]Ecclesiastical[aˈkan.tus]

Meaning

  1. masculineA plant known as bear's-foot (Helleborus foetidus).
  2. masculineA thorny evergreen tree.

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeacanthusacanthī
genitiveacanthīacanthōrum
dativeacanthōacanthīs
accusativeacanthumacanthōs
ablativeacanthōacanthīs
vocativeacantheacanthī

† ăcanthus, i, m., = ἄκανθος.
I. The plant bear's-breech, bear's-foot, or brankursine: Acanthus mollis, Linn.; Verg. E. 3, 45; 4, 20; id. G. 4, 123; id. A. 1, 649; Plin. 22, 22, 34, § 76 al.—
II. Fem., a thorny evergreen tree of Egypt, Verg. G. 2, 119; Vell. 2, 56, 2; Plin. 24, 12, 66 sq.
Ăcanthus, i, f., = Ἄκανθος,
I. a town of Macedonia, now Erisso, Liv. 31, 45 fin.; Mel. 2, 2, 9; Plin. 4, 10, 17, § 38.

Origins

From Ancient Greek ἄκανθος (ákanthos, “thorn”), from ἀκή (akḗ, “point”) + ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”).

Descendants
  • Catalanacant
  • Englishacanthus
  • Frenchacanthe
  • Romanianacantăfrom French acanthe
  • Italianacanto
  • Portugueseacanto
  • Spanishacanto
  • Finnishakantus
  • Finnishakantti
  • Irishacanta-

In English words that came into English from acanthus

  • acanthusacanthus
  • acanthineacanthinus
  • acanthoracanthus

Quick answers

What does acanthus mean in Latin?
acanthus, a noun, means “A plant known as bear's-foot (Helleborus foetidus).; A thorny evergreen tree.”.
What is the genitive of acanthus?
The genitive singular is acanthī. acanthus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce acanthus?
In classical Latin, [aˈkan.tʰʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [aˈkan.tus].
Which English words come from acanthus?
English words that go back to Latin acanthus include acanthus, acanthor and acanthine.