LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

clārus

clārus (feminine clāra, neuter clārum, comparative clārior, superlative clārissimus, adverb clārē)
Classical[ˈkɫaː.rʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈklaː.rus]
№ 395 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. adjectiveclear, bright
  2. adjectiverenowned, famous, famed, distinguished, illustrious, celebrated, glorious
    “Sunt et Siculīs regiōnibus urbēs“There are also, in the land of Sicily, cities and farms [for us], and [where, born] from Trojan blood, [reigns] the famed Acestes.”29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.549–550
  3. adjectiveupstanding, respected
  4. adjectiveloud, clear, distinct, audible

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

plēnus lūcis; etiam nōtus omnibus: vir clārus.
clārus -a -um — in Mille Verba, Colōrēs

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Celeber · Inclytus · Clarus · Illustris · Nobilis.

Celeber; Inclytus; Clarus; Illustris; Nobilis. Celeber (from κλέος) and inclytus (from κλυτός) denote celebrity, as general expressions, chiefly as belonging to things, and seldom as belonging to persons, except in poetry; clarus, illustris, and nobilis, with an especial political reference; clarus (γαληρός) means renowned for eminent services to one’s country; illustris (from ἀναλεύσσω) renowned for rank and virtue; nobilis (from novisse) belonging to a family whose members have already been invested with the honors of the state.

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeclārusclāraclārum
genitiveclārīclāraeclārī
dativeclārōclāraeclārō
accusativeclārumclāramclārum
ablativeclārōclārāclārō
vocativeclāreclāraclārum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeclārīclāraeclāra
genitiveclārōrumclārārumclārōrum
dativeclārīsclārīsclārīs
accusativeclārōsclārāsclāra
ablativeclārīsclārīsclārīs
vocativeclārīclāraeclāra

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

clarius loquere
speak up, please.
exemplum clarum, praeclarum
a good, brilliant example; a striking example.
vox magna, clara (Sulla 10. 30)
a strong, loud voice.
hoc est luce (sole ipso) clarius
this is as clear as daylight.
Pericles, quo nemo tum fuit clarior
Pericles, the greatest man of his day.
viri clari et honorati (De Sen. 7. 22)
men of rank and dignity.
Pericles, vir omnium, qui tum fuerunt, clarissimus
Pericles, the greatest man of his day.
clarum fieri, nobilitari, illustrari (not the post-classical clarescere or inclarescere
to become famous, distinguish oneself.

clārus, a, um, adj. kindr. with Germ. klar; Engl. clear; cf. clamo,
I. clear, bright (opp. obscurus, caecus; very freq. in all periods, and in all kinds of composition).
I. Lit.
A. Relating to the sight, clear, bright, shining, brilliant, etc.
(a). Absol.: luce clarā et candidā, Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 49: ut mulierum famam multorum oculis lux clara custodiat, open day, Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 37; cf.: frequentissimā celebritate et clarissimā luce laetari, id. Cael. 20, 47: lumen, Lucr. 3, 1: oculorum lumina, id. 4, 825; cf.: mundi lumina (i.e. sol et luna), Verg. G. 1, 5: oculi, Cato, R. R. 157, 10: incendia, Verg. A. 2, 569: lucerna, Hor. S. 2, 7, 48: scintillae ignis, Lucr. 6, 163: fulmina, id. 6, 84: vestis splendor, id. 2, 52: color, id. 5, 1258; cf.: color clarissimus, id. 2, 830: candor, id. 4, 232: loca, id. 5, 779 al.: caelum, Tac. A. 1, 28: nox, id. Agr. 12: pater omnipotens clarus intonat, in the clear sky, Verg. A. 7, 141 Serv.; cf. Cic. Arat. 4: sidus, Hor. C. 4, 8, 31: clarissimae gemmae, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 27, § 62; cf. lapides, Hor. C. 4, 13, 14: vitrum, Ov. M. 4, 355: purpurarum sidere clarior usus, Hor. C. 3, 1, 42.—
(b). With abl.: speculo, Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 112 dub.: argento clari delphines, Verg. A. 8, 673: rutilis squamis, id. G. 4, 93: ferrugine, id. A. 9, 582; cf. id. ib. 11, 772 Wagn.: auro gemmisque corona, Ov. M. 13, 704; 2, 2; 11, 359: albo Lucifer exit Clarus equo, id. ib. 15, 190: claraeque coruscis Fulguribus taedae, Lucr. 5, 295 al. —*
2. Poet., of the wind (cf.: albus, candidus, and in Gr. λαμπρὸς ἄνεμος; v. Lidd. and Scott under λαμπρός), making clear, i. e. bringing fair weather: aquilo, Verg. G. 1, 460 Forbig. ad loc.—
B. Relating to the hearing, clear, loud, distinct: clarā voce vocare, Lucr. 4, 711; Cic. Clu. 48, 134; id. Caecin. 8, 22; Liv. 7, 31, 12; 42, 25, 12; Ov. M. 3, 703: lectio, Cels. 1, 2: clariore voce, Caes. B. G. 5, 30; cf. Cic. Tusc. 5, 7, 19: sonor, Lucr. 4, 567: clamor, Plaut. Poen. 5, 3, 27: plausus, id. As. Grex. 6: plangor, Ov. M. 4, 138: latratus, id. ib. 13, 806: ictus, id. ib. 2, 625: strepitus, Suet. Vit. Luc.: vox (opp. obtusa), Quint. 11, 3, 15; 9, 4, 136 Spald.: spiritus, id. 11, 3, 55; cf. id. 11, 3, 41 and 82: syllabae clariores, id. 8, 3, 16.—
II. Trop.
A. Clear, manifest, plain, evident, intelligible (syn.: planus, apertus, perspicuus, dilucidus, etc.): vide ut mi haec certa et clara attuleris, Ter. Hec. 5, 4, 1 Ruhnk.; cf.: omnia non properanti clara certaque erunt, Liv. 22, 39, 22: clara res est, quam dicturus sum, totā Siciliā celeberrima atque notissima, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 25, § 61; 2, 5, 38, § 101; id. Tusc. 1, 32, 78: luce sunt clariora nobis tua consilia, id. Cat. 1, 3, 6: id quod est luce clarius, id. Tusc. 1, 37, 90: si ea, quae dixi, sole ipso inlustriora et clariora sunt, id. Fin. 1, 21, 71; id. Div. 1, 3, 6: caecis hoc satis clarum est, Quint. 12, 7, 9: lumen eloquentiae, id. 3, 8, 65; cf. id. 12, 10, 15; 11, 1, 75: in narrando (T. Livius) clarissimi candoris, id. 10, 1, 101 Spald. and Frotsch.: Massinissam regem post LXXXVI. annum generasse filium clarum est, Plin. 7, 14, 12, § 61: somno clarius, Ov. F. 3, 28: exempla, Tac. Or. 8; id. A. 4, 11: documenta, id. ib. 6, 22.—
B. Brilliant, celebrated, renowned, illustrious, honorable, famous, glorious, etc. (cf.: illustris, insignis, eximius, egregius, praestans, nobilis; a favorite epithet, esp. in the sup., like fortissimus, designating the highest praise of the honor-loving Roman; hence, a standing title, at all times, of distinguished public characters, as consuls, proconsuls, pontifices, senators, etc.): nobilitas, Plaut. Rud. 4, 2, 28; opp. to obscurus, Lucr. 1, 639; so Quint. 5, 10, 26: clari viri atque magni, Cato ap. Cic. Planc. 27, 66; Cic. Sest. 69, 144: certe non tulit ullos haec civitas aut gloriā clariores, aut auctoritate graviores, Cic. de Or. 2, 37, 154: vir fortissimus et clarissimus, Cic. Verr. 1, 15, 44; cf. id. ib. 2, 5, 58, § 153; id. de Or. 1, 45, 198; id. Clu. 48, 134: exempla clara et inlustria, id. Div. 2, 3, 8: pugna clara et commemorabilis, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 111: pax clarior majorque quam bellum fuerat, Liv. 10, 37, 4: animus abunde pollens potensque et clarus, Sall. J. 1, 3; so, facundia clara pollensque, id. ib. 30, 4: clara et magnifica, id. ib. 4, 8: clari potentesque fieri, id. C. 38, 1: familia, Tac. A. 2, 37; 3, 76: majores, id. ib. 4, 61: pater si in Equestri gradu clarus, clarior vitricus, Plin. Ep. 2, 13, 4: clarissimi consules, id. ib. 7, 33, 8: generis clarissimus auctor, Ov. P. 2, 9, 19: clarissima civitas, Nep. Thras. 2, 1: apud Germanicos quoque (Titus), Tac. H. 2, 77: scriptores, id. A. 1, 1.—
(b). With abl.: clariores gloriā, Cic. de Or. 2, 37, 154; v. supra: arte medicinae, Quint. 3, 6, 64: eloquendi suavitate, id. 10, 1, 83: sententiis, id. 10, 1, 90: Juppiter giganteo triumpho, Hor. C. 3, 1, 7: agendis causis, id. Ep. 1, 7, 47: Ajax toties servatis Achivis, id. S. 2, 3, 194: bello, Tac. Agr. 29; id. H. 3, 44: gens memoriā nominis, id. ib. 1, 67: Cluvius Rufus eloquentiā, id. ib. 4, 43.—
(g). With in: in arte tibiarum, Quint. 2, 3, 3; cf.: clarissimi in eā scientiā, Plin. 36, 5, 4, § 11: in litteris, Quint. 1, 6, 35: in agendo, id. 12, 10, 49: in foro, id. 10, 5, 14: in contionibus, id. 12, 2, 7; 12, 10, 49.—*
(d). With ex: ex doctrinā nobilis et clarus, Cic. Rab. Post. 9, 23.—(ε) With ob: ob obscuram linguam, Lucr. 1, 639: ob id factum, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 32; cf.: urbs clara ob insignem munimento naturali locum, Liv. 24, 39, 8.—(ζ) With ab: Trojanoque a sanguine clarus Acestes, Verg. A. 1, 550.—(η) With gen.: artis ejus, Plin. 37, 1, 4, § 8.—
2. As a title: clarissimus vir, Cic. Att. 15, 20, 2; cf. id. ib. 14, 11, 1: clarissimi consules, Plin. Ep. 7, 33, 8; cf. Dig. 49, 14, 18; Lampr. Elag. 4; Alex. Sev. 21 al.: permitto tibi vir clarissime Veiento (a senator), dicere, Plin. Ep. 9, 13, 19; so, ordo = senatorius, Vop. Aur. 18 fin.; cf. also Isid. Orig. 9, 4, 12.—
b. Meton., of the wives of such distinguished public characters: clarissimae feminae, Dig. 1, 9, 8.—
c. In a bad sense, notorious: minus clarum putavit fore quod de armario quam quod de sacrario esset ablatum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 12, § 27; 2, 1, 19, § 50; 2, 4, 12, § 29: ecquid hoc totā Siciliā clarius, ecquid indignius? etc., id. ib. 2, 5, 7, § 16: populus (sc. Campanus), luxuriā superbiāque clarus, Liv. 7, 31, 6.—Hence, adv.: clārē (freq. and class.).
I. Lit.
1. Of sight (acc. to I. A.), brightly, clearly: clare oculis video, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 35: clare fulgens caesaries, Cat. 66, 9: occidere, of a star, Col. 11, 2, 52.—Comp.: clarius micare, Plin. 10, 20, 22, § 43: nitere, Stat. S. 4, 1, 4. —Sup.: clarissime lucere, Vitr. 9, 4.—
2. Of hearing (acc. to I. B.), clearly, distinctly, plainly, aloud: clare recitare, Plaut. Pers. 4, 3, 30: plaudite, id. Am. fin.; cf. id. Bacch. fin.: dic, Ter. And. 4, 4, 15 Ruhnk.: gemere, Cic. Att. 2, 20, 3: res clare enuntiare, Quint. 8, 3, 62: sonare, id. 11, 3, 55: exscreare, id. 11, 3, 160: maledicere, Suet. Vit. 14 et saep.: palam et clare, id. Claud. 3; cf. Mart. 7, 92, 5.—Comp.: clarius fabulari, Suet. Calig. 22.—Sup.: pisces clarissime audiunt, Plin. 10, 70, 89, § 193; Vitr. 5, 3.—
II. Trop.
1. Mentally (acc. to II. A.), distinctly, intelligibly, clearly: clare atque evidenter ostendere, Quint. 8, 3, 86; cf. id. 4, 1, 1: aliquid intellegere, Plin. 37, 2, 6, § 16. —Comp.: eo clarius id periculum apparet, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 14, 2; so, clarius intellegi, Quint. 2, 5, 7: clarius elucebit, id. 12, 1, 26: clarius ostendemus, id. 2, 17, 25 al.— Sup., Quint. 9, 1, 19.—
2. Morally (acc. to II. B.), illustriously, honorably (very rare): clarius exsplendescebat, Nep. Att. 1, 3.

Origins

Derived from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- (“to call, shout”), probably via Proto-Indo-European *kl̥h₁rós and Proto-Italic *klāros (“loud”), containing the suffix *-ros (compare Latin -er postconsonantally). Doublet of calō, clāmō, classis, and concilium. Cognate with Ancient Greek καλέω (kaléō) and particularly German hell (“clear, bright”).

Gallo-Romance
  • Catalanclar
  • Catalancllar
  • Occitanclarfrom Old Occitan clar
  • Franco-Provençalcllâr
  • Old Frenchcler
Ibero-Romance
  • Portugueseclarofrom Old Galician-Portuguese claro
  • Spanishclaro
  • Belsetánclarfrom Aragonese claro
  • Benasquéscllarofrom Aragonese claro
  • Asturianclaru
  • Extremadurancraru
  • Leonesecraru
  • Galicianclarofrom Old Galician-Portuguese claro
  • Galiciancrarofrom Old Galician-Portuguese claro
Insular Romance
  • Sardiniancraru
Balkano-Romance
  • Romanianchiar
  • Istro-Romaniancľår
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italianchiaro
  • Corsicanchjaru
  • Dalmatianchiáro
  • Istriotciàro
  • Neapolitanchiaro
  • Sicilianchiaru
  • Sicilianciaru
  • Venetanciaro
Borrowings
  • Romanianclar
  • Albanianqartë
  • Interlinguaclar
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friulianclâr
  • Ladincler
  • Ladinchièr
  • Ladintler
  • Romanshclar
  • Romanshcler
Gallo-Italic
  • Emiliancèr
  • Emilianciär
  • Ligurianciæo
  • Lombardciar
  • Lombardcèr
  • Piedmonteseciair
  • Piedmontesecèir
  • Piedmontesecèr
  • Romagnolcêr

Quick answers

What does clārus mean in Latin?
clārus, a adjective, means “clear, bright; renowned, famous, famed, distinguished, illustrious, celebrated, glorious; upstanding, respected”.
How do you pronounce clārus?
In classical Latin, [ˈkɫaː.rʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈklaː.rus].