LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

acerra

acerra f (genitive acerrae)
Classical[aˈkɛr.ra]Ecclesiastical[aˈt͡ʃɛr.ra]

Meaning

  1. feminineA small box in which was kept the incense used in sacrifices

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeacerraacerrae
genitiveacerraeacerrārum
dativeacerraeacerrīs
accusativeacerramacerrās
ablativeacerrāacerrīs
vocativeacerraacerrae

ăcerra, ae, f. etym. unc., perh. from ăcer = maple,
I. a casket in which was kept the incense used in sacrifices, esp. in burning the dead, an incense-box: ne sumptuosa respersio, ne longae coronae, nec acerrae praetereantur, from the XII. Tab. ap. Cic. Leg. 2, 24, 60: plenā veneratur larem, Verg. A. 5, 745; cf.: plena turis, Hor. C. 3, 8, 2; tacitā libabit acerrā, Pers. 2, 5; so also Ov. M. 13, 703; id. Pont. 4, 8, 39; Fratr. Arval. in Orell. I. L. 2270, p. 391 al. Cf. Fest. s. h. v. p. 18 Müll, who gives another signif.: ACERRA, ara, quae ante mortuum poni solebat.

Origins

Probably from Etruscan.

Descendants
  • Englishacerra
  • Italianacerra
  • Portugueseacerra

In English words that came into English from acerra

  • acerraacerra

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesAcerraAcerra the incense box used in sacrifices. (Hor. Carm. 3.8.2; Verg. A. 5.745) The incense was taken out of the acerra and let fall upon the burning al…

Quick answers

What does acerra mean in Latin?
acerra, a noun, means “A small box in which was kept the incense used in sacrifices”.
What is the genitive of acerra?
The genitive singular is acerrae. acerra is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce acerra?
In classical Latin, [aˈkɛr.ra]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [aˈt͡ʃɛr.ra].