LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

barathrum

barathrum n (genitive barathrī)
Classical[ˈba.ra.tʰrũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈbaː.ra.trum]

Meaning

  1. neuterchasm, pit
  2. neuterabyss, the lower world, hell
  3. neutermaw, belly

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Vorago · Vortex · Gurges

Vorago (ὄρηχος) and the poetical word, of foreign origin, barathrum, denote an abyss in water, which may be either in a pool, pond, or sea; whereas vortex and gurges suppose water in motion; vortex moves in a horizontal direction, so that its water turns in a circle, and hinders whatever swims therein from escaping; gurges (from γοργός? or γύργαθος?), in a perpendicular direction, so that it drags down whatever comes into its eddy, into the depth below. Liv. xxviii. 30. Navis retro vortice intorta; compare with xxii. 6. Deficientibus animis hauriebantur gurgitibus. (v. 155.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativebarathrum
baratrum		barathra
baratra
genitivebarathrī
baratrī		barathrōrum
baratrōrum
dativebarathrō
baratrō		barathrīs
baratrīs
accusativebarathrum
baratrum		barathra
baratra
ablativebarathrō
baratrō		barathrīs
baratrīs
vocativebarathrum
baratrum		barathra
baratra

bărā^thrum, i, n., = βάραθρον,
I. an abyss, chasm, a deep pit, the Lower World (mostly poet; cf. vorago), Plaut. Rud. 2, 7, 12: o barathrum ubi nunc es? ut ego te usurpem lubens (words of one in despair), id. Bacch. 1, 2, 41; Lucr. 3, 966; Cat. 68, 108; 68, 117; 95, 5.—Esp., of the infernal regions: ferri in barathrum, Lucr. 6, 606: imus barathri gurges (Charybdis), Verg. A. 3, 421; 8, 245; Sil. 9, 497: poena barathri, Val. Fl. 2, 86; a pit made by art, a deep dungeon, Vitr. 10, 22, 11.—
B. Trop.: quid enim differt, barathrone Dones quidquid habes, an numquam utare paratis? thou throwest into the abyss, i. e. squanderest, Hor. S. 2, 3, 166.—
II. Transf.
A. Jocosely or satirically, a maw (as insatiable), Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 29; Mart. 1, 88, 4.—Hence Horace calls a greedy man barathrum macelli, an abyss, gulf of the provision market, Ep. 1, 15, 31.—
B. In mal. part., Mart. 3, 81, 1.

Origins

From Ancient Greek βάραθρον (bárathron).

Descendants
  • Italianbaratro
  • Portuguesebáratro
  • Spanishbáratro
  • Albanianballandër

Quick answers

What does barathrum mean in Latin?
barathrum, a noun, means “chasm, pit; abyss, the lower world, hell; maw, belly”.
What is the genitive of barathrum?
The genitive singular is barathrī. barathrum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce barathrum?
In classical Latin, [ˈba.ra.tʰrũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈbaː.ra.trum].