LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

contubernium

contubernium n (genitive contuberniī or contubernī)
Classical[kɔn.tʊˈbɛr.ni.ũː]Ecclesiastical[kon.tuˈbɛr.ni.um]

Meaning

  1. historicalneutera squad of soldiers sharing a single tent, usually 6–8 men
  2. neuterattendance (in war)
  3. neuterattendance, accompanying (of teachers, friends, etc.)
  4. neutermarriage of slaves
  5. neutera dwelling together (referring to animals)
  6. neutera dwelling of different persons
  7. neuterusuallyhousehold, company

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

vīta commūnis, hospitium amīcī
contubernium -ī (n) — in Epistulae, ch. 8

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Conjugium · Matrimonium · Contubernium · Nuptiæ

Conjugium and matrimonium denote the lasting connection between man and wife, for the purpose of living together and bringing up their offspring; conjugium is a very general term for a mere natural regulation, which also takes place among animals; contubernium means the marriage connection between slaves; matrimonium, the legal marriage between freemen and citizens, as a respectable and a political regulation; whereas nuptiæ means only the commencement of matrimonium, the wedding, or marriage-festival.

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecontuberniumcontubernia
genitivecontuberniī
contubernī		contuberniōrum
dativecontuberniōcontuberniīs
accusativecontuberniumcontubernia
ablativecontuberniōcontuberniīs
vocativecontuberniumcontubernia

con-tŭbernĭum, ii, n. taberna.
I. Abstr.
A. In milit. lang. (cf. contubernalis, I.).
1. Tent-companionship, a dwelling together in a tent: legionum, with the legions, Tac. A. 1, 41; id. H. 2, 80.—
b. Concr., a body of soldiers occupying a tent together, a mess, squad: erant decani decem militibus propositi, qui nunc caput contubernii vocantur, Veg. Mil. 2, 8; 2, 13.—
2. The intercourse of a young man and the general accompanied by him in war, attendance, Cic. Planc. 11, 27; Sall. J. 64, 4; Liv. 42, 11, 7; Tac. Agr. 5 al.—
B. Transf. from the sphere of milit. operations.
1. The accompanying, attendance (of teachers, friends, etc.), Suet. Aug. 89; id. Tib. 14; 56; Tac. Or. 5 al.—
2. In partic.,
(a). The marriage of slaves, Col. 12, 1, 2; Curt. 5, 5, 20; Dig. 40, 4, 59.—
(b). Ironically, in distinction from conubium: contubernium muliebris militiae, concubinage, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 40, § 104; Petr. 92, 4; Suet. Caes. 49 al. —
b. Of animals, a dwelling together, Phaedr. 2, 4, 4; cf.: si hominis contubernium passa est (bestia immanis), Sen. Ira, 3, 8, 2.— *
c. Trop.: felicitatis et moderationis dividuum contubernium est, dwell not, exist not together, Val. Max. 9, 5 fin.—
II. Concr. (acc. to I. A. and B.).
A. A common wartent, Caes. B. C. 3, 76; Tac. A. 1, 17; 1, 41 al.—
B. Transf., the dwelling of different persons, Suet. Calig. 10; 22; id. Ner. 34.—
2. The dwelling of a couple who are slaves, a slave dwelling, Tac. H. 1, 43; 3, 74.—
3. Of bees, Plin. 11, 11, 10, § 26.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Latincontubernium

Latin taberna Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium Latin contubernium From con- (“with, shared”) + taberna (“hut; tent”) + -ium.

Descendants
  • Portuguesecontubérnio

In English words that came into English from contubernium

  • contuberniumcontubernium
  • contubernalcontubernālis

Quick answers

What does contubernium mean in Latin?
contubernium, a noun, means “a squad of soldiers sharing a single tent, usually 6–8 men; attendance (in war); attendance, accompanying (of teachers, friends, etc.)”.
What is the genitive of contubernium?
The genitive singular is contuberniī. contubernium is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce contubernium?
In classical Latin, [kɔn.tʊˈbɛr.ni.ũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [kon.tuˈbɛr.ni.um].
Where does contubernium come from?
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? → Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm → Proto-Italic *kom → Proto-Italic *kom- → Latin contubernium.