LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininethird declension

cantharis

cantharis f (genitive cantharidis)
Classical[ˈkan.tʰa.rɪs]Ecclesiastical[ˈkan.ta.ris]

Meaning

  1. feminineSpanish fly, a beetle of species Lytta vesicatoria, and the poison of it.
  2. feminineA worm injurious to the vine and rose.

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecanthariscantharidēs
genitivecantharidiscantharidum
dativecantharidīcantharidibus
accusativecantharidemcantharidēs
ablativecantharidecantharidibus
vocativecanthariscantharidēs

canthăris, ĭdis, f., = κανθαρίς.
I. A genus of beetle, of several species; in pure Lat. scarabaeus parvus, Plin. 29, 4, 30, § 94; freq. used in medicine, id. 11, 35, 41, § 118; 29, 4, 30, § 93.—Esp. the (very poisonous) Spanish fly, cantharides: Meloe vesicatorius, Linn.; Cic. Tusc. 5, 40, 117; id. Fam. 9, 21, 3; Ov. Ib. 306; cf. Plin. 29, 4, 30, § 94; 11, 35, 41, § 118.—
II. A worm injurious to the vine and rose, Pall. 1, 35, 6 and 4; cf. Plin. 18, 17, 44, § 152.

Origins

From Ancient Greek κανθαρίς (kantharís, “blister-beetle”), of uncertain origin. Possibly related to the toponym Κάνθαροσ (Kántharos), a port of Piraeus, which is a Pre-Greek name. Also compare Akkadian 𒅗𒀭𒁕/𒌨𒌋 (“cup”).

Descendants
  • Englishcantharis

In English words that came into English from cantharis

  • cantharidescantharides

Quick answers

What does cantharis mean in Latin?
cantharis, a noun, means “Spanish fly, a beetle of species Lytta vesicatoria, and the poison of it.; A worm injurious to the vine and rose.”.
What is the genitive of cantharis?
The genitive singular is cantharidis. cantharis is feminine, third declension.
How do you pronounce cantharis?
In classical Latin, [ˈkan.tʰa.rɪs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈkan.ta.ris].