LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neuterthird declension

cadāver

cadāver n (genitive cadāveris)
Classical[kaˈdaː.wɛr]Ecclesiastical[kaˈdaː.ver]

Meaning

  1. corpse, cadaver, carcass

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Cadaver · Corpus

Cadaver denotes the dead body as a mere material substance, like carcass: but corpus as the remains of personality, like corpse, and is always used when the dead body is spoken of with feeling. (vi. 45.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecadāvercadāvera
genitivecadāveriscadāverum
dativecadāverīcadāveribus
accusativecadāvercadāvera
ablativecadāverecadāveribus
vocativecadāvercadāvera

cădāver, ĕris, n. cado, I. B. 2.; cf. Isid. Orig. 11, 2, 35, and the Gr. πτῶμα, from πίπτω.
I. Lit., a dead body of man or brute, a corpse, carcass (class.).
A. Of man: taetra cadavera, Lucr. 2, 415; 3, 719; 4, 682; 6, 1154; 6, 1273: aqua cadaveribus inquinata, Cic. Tusc. 5, 34, 97.—Freq. of the bodies of slaves, criminals, etc., Cic. Mil. 13, 33; Hor. S. 1, 8, 8; 2, 5, 85.—Of the dead bodies of those who fell in war, Caes. B. G. 7, 77; Sall. C. 61, 4; 61, 8; id. J. 101 fin.; Flor. 2, 6, 18; 3, 2, 85; Val. Max. 7, 6, 5.—Of the body of Caligula, Suet. Calig. 59: semiustum, id. Dom. 15 al.: informe, Verg. A. 8, 264.—Esp., as med. t. t. for a corpse: recentia, Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 233; 11, 37, 70, § 184; Val. Max. 9, 2, ext. 10; Sen. Contr. 10, 34.—
B. Of brutes: aggerat ipsis In stabulis turpi dilapsa cadavera tabo, Verg. G. 3, 557.—Hence, as a term of reproach of a despised, worthless man, a carcass: ab hoc ejecto cadavere quidquam mihi aut opis aut ornamenti expetebam? Cic. Pis. 9, 19; 33, 82.—*
II. Meton., the remains, ruins of desolated towns: tot oppidŭm cadavera, Sulp. ap. Cic. Fam. 4, 5, 4.

Origins

From the Latin verb cadō (“to fall”), as a euphemism for dying, "the fallen one". This etymology is found as early as ca. 200 C.E. in the writings of Tertullian. The above derivation, refined to be from an active perfect participle *kadā-wes-, is tentatively accepted by de Vaan, albeit with reservations. Other theories include a connection to Sanskrit कलेवर (kalevara, “corpse”). Compare typologically Russian па́даль (pádalʹ) (akin to па́дать (pádatʹ)), Ancient Greek πτῶμα (ptôma) (< πίπτω (píptō)). A folk etymology derives cadaver syllabically from the Latin expression caro data vermibus (flesh given to worms). This etymology, more popular in Romance countries, can be traced back as early as the Schoolmen of the Middle Ages.

Elsewhere
  • Catalancadàver
  • Englishcadaver
  • Frenchcadavre
  • Romaniancadavrufrom French cadavre
  • Italiancadavere
  • Portuguesecadáver
  • Spanishcadáver
  • Asturiancadávere
  • Asturiancalabre
  • Asturiancadabre
Padanian
  • Romagnolcadêvar

In English words that came into English from cadāver

  • cadavercadāver
  • cadaverinecadāver
  • cadaverouscadāverōsus

Quick answers

What does cadāver mean in Latin?
cadāver, a noun, means “corpse, cadaver, carcass”.
What is the genitive of cadāver?
The genitive singular is cadāveris. cadāver is neuter, third declension.
How do you pronounce cadāver?
In classical Latin, [kaˈdaː.wɛr]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [kaˈdaː.ver].
Which English words come from cadāver?
English words that go back to Latin cadāver include cadaver, cadaverine and cadaverous.