LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

cōpula

cōpula f (genitive cōpulae)
Classical[ˈkoː.pʊ.ɫa]Ecclesiastical[ˈkɔː.pu.la]

Meaning

  1. a bond, tie, band or other connecting item
  2. a leash

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecōpulacōpulae
genitivecōpulaecōpulārum
dativecōpulaecōpulīs
accusativecōpulamcōpulās
ablativecōpulācōpulīs
vocativecōpulacōpulae

cōpŭla, ae (contr. form cōpla, in Wernsd. Poët. Lat. Min. IV. p. 535), f. coapio,
I. that which binds together or binds fast, a band, rope, thong, tie (rare; not in Cic.).
I. Lit.: tortae, ship's rigging, Att. ap. Non. p. 200, 33 (Trag. Rel. v. 577 Rib.); Plaut. Ep. 5, 1, 11: copulā vinctum ante se Thynem agere, Nep. Dat. 3, 2; cf.: copula dura canem tenet, a leash, Ov. Tr. 5, 9, 28; id. M. 7, 769; App. M. 7, p. 769: pectora copulae sparteae triturā continuā exulcerati (muli), id. ib. 9, p. 224 fin.—Of the clasp of a bracelet, Capitol. Max. Jun. 1, 8.—Of grapnel-hooks, etc., by which vessels were held in battle: eādem de causā minus commode copulis continebantur (naves), Caes. B. G. 3, 13 ex conj. (MSS. scopulis).—
II. Trop., a bond, tie, connection; of love: irrupta tenet, Hor. C. 1, 13, 18: nuptialis, App. M. 2, p. 120; so, copula, Dig. 5, 4, 24; 5, 4, 26; cf.: (Hymenaee), copula sacra deum, Mart. Cap. 1, § 1 Kopp ad loc.—Of friendship: talium virorum, Nep. Att. 5, 3.—Of words, Quint. 7, 10, 17; Nigid. ap. Gell. 10, 5, 1: ut dignitas eloquendi copulationis ipsius decore servetur, Mart. Cap. 5, § 509.

Origins

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

Proto-Indo-European [Term?]der. Proto-Italic *apjō Latin apiō Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Indo-European *-tlom, *-dʰlom Latin -ula Latin *coapula Latin cōpula Contraction of *coapula, from con- (“together”) + apiō (“to join”) + -ula.

Borrowings
  • Catalancòpula
  • Englishcopula
  • Frenchcopule
  • Italiancopula
  • Portuguesecobrafrom Old Galician-Portuguese cobra
  • Spanishcobrafrom Old Galician-Portuguese cobra
  • Portuguesecópula
  • Spanishcópula
  • Portuguesecoplafrom Spanish cópula
  • Spanishcopla
Southern Gallo-Romance
  • Catalancobla
  • Occitancobla
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italiancoppia
  • Siciliancucchia
  • Venetancùbia
  • Venetancóbia
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friuliancubie
Gallo-Italic
  • Piedmontesecobia
Northern Gallo-Romance
  • Franco-Provençalcoblla
  • Old Frenchcouple

Quick answers

What does cōpula mean in Latin?
cōpula, a noun, means “a bond, tie, band or other connecting item; a leash”.
What is the genitive of cōpula?
The genitive singular is cōpulae. cōpula is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce cōpula?
In classical Latin, [ˈkoː.pʊ.ɫa]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈkɔː.pu.la].
Where does cōpula come from?
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? → Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm → Proto-Italic *kom → Proto-Italic *kom- → Latin cōpula.