proper noun · femininethird declension
Alpēs
Alpēs f pl (genitive Alpium)
Classical[ˈaɫ.peːs]Ecclesiastical[ˈal.pes]
Meaning
- the Alps (a mountain range in Western Europe)
- a particular portion of the Alps
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | — | Alpēs |
| genitive | — | Alpium |
| dative | — | Alpibus |
| accusative | — | Alpēs Alpīs |
| ablative | — | Alpibus |
| vocative | — | Alpēs |
| locative | — | Alpibus |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- culmina Alpium
- the summits of the Alps.
- Rhenus oritur or profluit ex Alpibus
- the Rhine rises in the Alps.
- superare Alpes, Pyrenaeum, Apenninum(both always in the sing.)
- to cross the Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines.
Alpes, ĭum (rare in sing., Alpis, is, = ἡ Ἄλπις; cf. Rudd. I. p. 157, n. 78), f., = αἱ Ἄλπεις [v. albus],
I. High mountains; and κατʼ ἐξοχήν, the high mountains of Switzerland, the Alps, unknown to the Romans, in their whole extent, until the time of Augustus. The three principal ranges, running S.W. and N.E., are,
I. The western division between Italy and France.
A. Alpes Maritimae, the Maritime Alps, extending from the sources of the Var, in a S.E. direction, to the sea, between the present Nice and Piedmont. North of these are,
B. Alpes Cottiae (so called from Cottius, a prefect in that region under Augustus), the Cottian Alps, west of Augusta Taurinorum, whose highest peak was Alpis Cottia, now Mont Genevre. Next to these, on the north.
C. Alpes Graiae (Graiae, a Celtic word of uncertain signif., sometimes falsely referred to Hercules Graius, Nep. Hann. 3, 4), the Graian Alps, extending to Mont Blanc (Alpis Graia is the Little St. Bernard).—
II. East of these, the middle division, as the northern boundary of Italy.
A. Alpes Penninae (so called from the deity Penninus, worshipped there; acc. to some, with the orthog. Poeninae, erroneously, with reference to Hannibal), the Pennine or Vallisian Alps, between Vallais and Upper Italy, whose highest peak, Mons Penninus, the Great St. Bernard, seems to have been out little known even in the time of Cæsar; v. Caes. B. G. 3, 1.—Connected with these on the N.E. are,
B. Alpes Lepontinae, the Lepontine Alps, the eastern continuation of which are,
C. Alpes Rhaeticae, the Rhœtian or Tyrolese Alps, extending to the Great Glockner.—
III. The eastern division.
A. Alpes Noricae, the Noric or Salzburg Alps.—
B. Alpes Carnicae, the Carnic Alps.—
C. Alpes Juliae (prob. so callea from the Forum Julii, situated near), the Julian Alps, extending to the Adriatic Sea and Illyria.—Cf. Mann Ital. I. p. 31 sq.; I p. 263; I. p. 271; I. p. 192; I. p. 189; id. Germ. p. 546:
Alpes aëriae, Verg. G. 3, 474: hibernae, Hor. S. 2, 5, 41: gelidae. Luc. 1, 183: saevae Juv. 10, 166 al.—In sing.: quot in Alpe ferae. Ov. A. A. 3, 150: Alpis nubiferae colles. Luc. 1, 688: opposuit natura Alpemque nivemque. Juv 10, 152: emissus ab Alpe, Claud. B. Gild. 82; id. Cons. Stil. 3, 285.—IV. Appel. for any high mountain (only poet.):
gemmae Alpes, the Alps and Pyrenees, Sil. 2, 833; Sid. Apol. 5, 593; Prud. στεφ. 3, 538.—Of Athos, Sid. Apol. 2, 510; 9, 43.Origins
Uncertain, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“to grow, rise”) or from a non-Indo-European (perhaps pre-Roman Alpine substrate) or Celtic source (compare Proto-Celtic *albiyū f (“alp”) or Scottish Gaelic alp f (“protuberance”)). Compare Old Saxon elbon (“Alps”, plural), Old High German alba (“alpine pasture”), Middle High German albe (“mountain meadow, high mountain, mountain range”), whence German Alb (“mountainous area”). Potentially related to Albanus or albus (“white”).
Descendants
- CatalanAlps
- FrenchAlpes
- EnglishAlpsfrom French Alpes
- RomanianAlpifrom French Alpes
- GermanAlpen
- ItalianAlpi
- OccitanAups
- OccitanAlps
- SpanishAlpes
- PortugueseAlpes
In English words that came into English from Alpēs
- alpineAlpīnus
- cisalpinecisalpīnus
- alpAlpēs