LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

accipiter

accipiter m (genitive accipitris)
Classical[akˈkɪ.pɪ.tɛr]Ecclesiastical[atˈt͡ʃiː.pi.ter]

Meaning

  1. masculinehawk, merlin
    Terrētur minimō pennae strīdōre columbā,The dove is terrified by the slightest rustle of a feather, having been wounded by your talons, hawk.8 CE – 12 CE, Ovidius, Tristia 1.75–76
  2. masculinea rapacious man

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeaccipiteraccipitrēs
genitiveaccipitrisaccipitrum
dativeaccipitrīaccipitribus
accusativeaccipitremaccipitrēs
ablativeaccipitreaccipitribus
vocativeaccipiteraccipitrēs

accĭpĭter, tris (earlier also tĕris, Prisc. p. 695 P.), m. (f. Lucr. 4, 1006) [com. deriv. from accipio; see 2. acceptor; but cf. ὠκύπτερος, swift-winged], a general name for birds of prey, esp. those of the falcon kind, Plin. 10, 8, 9, § 21; Ter. Ph. 2, 2, 16; Lucr. 5, 107; Cic. N. D. 3, 19; Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 50 al.—
B. In partic.
1. The common hawk, Falco Palumbarius, Linn.; Hor. C. 1, 37, 17 sq.; Ov. M. 5, 605 sq.; Col. 8, 4, 6; 3, 8, 4 al.: sacer, because auguries were taken from it, Verg. A. 11, 721 (cf. Hom. Od. 15, 525 sq.).—
2. The sparrowhawk, Falco Nisus, Linn., used in fowling; Mart. 14, 216.—
II. Transf., of a rapacious man: labes populi, pecuniai accipiter, Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 5.

Origins

Uncertain. The term parallels other formations in other Indo-European languages, such as Proto-Slavic *àstrę̄bъ, Sanskrit आशुपत्वन् (āśupátvan), and Ancient Greek ὠκύπτερος (ōkúpteros, “swift-winged”). De Vaan argues that the first part of the compound, ac-, possibly derives from Proto-Indo-European *HéHḱus (“swift, quick”). Alternatively, the philologist Claire Le Feuvre argues that this component probably derives from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-, whence also acus. The second part of the compound, -piter, possibly derives from earlier *petro- or *petri-, both of which—according to De Vaan—may have meant "wing." This second component is most likely connected to Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread out, fly”). De Vaan provides a Proto-Italic pre-form *aku-petris (“having swift/pointed wings”). Based on the comparison with Ancient Greek, Beekes suggests a possible Proto-Indo-European pre-form *HHḱu-petro- (“fast-flying”). According to Nussbaum, the connection with Ancient Greek πτερόν (pterón) requires an earlier Latin form *aci-pteri-, which would have evolved into accipiter via anaptyxis. Nussbaum argues that the reconstruction *-petris for the second component is preferable to ensure consistency with Sanskrit पत्र (pátra). Nevertheless, Nussbaum still considers the latter reconstruction problematic, arguing that Plautine accipetrina attests to a continuation of the original vocalism. Instead, Nussbaum opts for a reconstruction *aci-peter- based on a comparison with Hittite pát-tar. The geminate -cc- is perhaps influenced by accipiō (“take, seize”). Alternatively, it has been explained as a development from earlier *āci- via the littera-rule. Though, Nussbaum rejects the second possibility as it would be the only known example in which the littera-rule affected a vowel that was not long -ī- or -ū-.

Descendants
  • Catalanastor
  • Englishaccipiter
  • Frenchautourfrom Old French hostur
  • Occitanastor
  • Italianastorefrom Occitan astor
  • Sardinianastorefrom Occitan astor
  • Sardinianistorefrom Occitan astor
  • Portugueseaçorfrom Old Galician-Portuguese açor
  • EnglishAzoresfrom Old Galician-Portuguese açor
  • PortugueseAçoresfrom Old Galician-Portuguese açor

In English words that came into English from accipiter

  • accipiteraccipiter

Quick answers

What does accipiter mean in Latin?
accipiter, a noun, means “hawk, merlin; a rapacious man”.
What is the genitive of accipiter?
The genitive singular is accipitris. accipiter is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce accipiter?
In classical Latin, [akˈkɪ.pɪ.tɛr]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [atˈt͡ʃiː.pi.ter].