LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

cērussa

cērussa f (genitive cērussae)
Classical[keːˈrʊs.sa]Ecclesiastical[t͡ʃeˈrus.sa]

Meaning

  1. white lead, ceruse (particularly as used by women to whiten their skin.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecērussacērussae
genitivecērussaecērussārum
dativecērussaecērussīs
accusativecērussamcērussās
ablativecērussācērussīs
vocativecērussacērussae

cērussa, ae. f.,
I. white-lead, ceruse (used by painters, and by women for making the skin white; also in medicine, and in large doses as a poison), Plin. 28, 9, 33, § 129; 34, 18, 54, § 175 sq.; Vitr. 7, 12, 1; Cels. 5, 27, 15; Plin. 28, 9, 33, § 129; 35, 6, 19, § 37; Plant. Most. 1, 3, 101; Ov. Med. Fac. 73; Mart. 10, 22, 2; Pall. Aug. 11, 3.

Origins

Uncertain, but perhaps from cera (“wax”) + -issa (“-esse”).

Descendants
  • Frenchcéruse
  • Englishcerusefrom French céruse
  • Englishcerussitefrom French céruse
  • Spanishcerusa
  • Slovakceruzafrom Hungarian ceruza

In English words that came into English from cērussa

  • cerussitecērussa
  • cerusecērusa

Quick answers

What does cērussa mean in Latin?
cērussa, a noun, means “white lead, ceruse (particularly as used by women to whiten their skin.)”.
What is the genitive of cērussa?
The genitive singular is cērussae. cērussa is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce cērussa?
In classical Latin, [keːˈrʊs.sa]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [t͡ʃeˈrus.sa].