What is the Latin word for low?

The usual Latin words for “low” are humilis, dēprimō, dēmittō; also gravis, lēnis, supprimō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“low” in Latin

humilislow, lowly, small, slight; shallow; base, mean, humble, obscure, poor, needy, insignificant, low; short, not tall (of ph dēprimōto press down; to depress; to suppress, repress or silence; to disparage dēmittōto send or bring down, cause to hang or fall down; drop, flow, shed, sag, let fall; to sink, lower, put down; to cast do gravisheavy; pregnant; troublesome, hard lēnissoft, smooth, gentle, moderate, mild, calm; gradual supprimōto press down or under, suppress; to detain or restrain, suppress; to sink summittōto place underneath; to put forth (from below); to rear or raise (animals)caecusblind (not seeing); blind, blinded (mentally or morally); blind, at random, vague, indiscriminate, aimless, meaningless,iaceōto lie prostrate, lie down; recline; to be sick, lie ill; to linger, stop, tarry, remain dēmissuslow; low-lying; disheartened, downhearted, downcast, crestfallen, dejected, dispirited; humble, poor

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

low adj.

PROP., not high, humilis (opposed to altus): depressus (post-Augustan; opposed to editus): demissus (sunken). A low country, loca demissa (with palustria): low shore, ripae demissiores (Auct., B. Alex.): a house in a very low situation, domus depressa, caeca, jacens (Cic., Fr.): to be in a low situation, in loco demisso (depresso) situm esse: the lower town, plana urbs (Tac.): low water [Vid: EBB].

Figuratively. (a) Of the tones of the voice, etc., (bass) gravis (Cic.); depressus (Auct., ad Hor.); inferioris soni (gentle, suppressed): lenis (opposed to gravis): suppressus, summissus (opposed to magnus, contentus, clarus). To speak in a low tone, summisse, summissa or suppressa voce loqui, dicere summittere vocem or verba (Vid: Cic., Divin. in Caecil., 13, 48; Sen., Ep., 11, 5): mussare (to mutter): susurrare (to whisper): to speak in a low tone to anybody, ad aurem familiariter insusurrare (Vid: Cic., II: Verr., 5, 41, 107): to ask one another in a low tone, mussantes inter se rogare (Liv., 7, 25). (b) In price, vilis. A low price, pretium vile or parvum: to buy at a low price, parvo, or vili (pretio) aliquid emere; pauco aere aliquid emere: what is the lowest you will take? quanti emi potest minimo? tell me the lowest price, indica, fac pretium minimo daturus cui sis: to be low, jacere: prices are low, jacent pretia (e.g. praediorum, Cic.). (c) In rank or estimation, humilis; ignobilis; obscurus (Cic.): sordidus (Liv., a stronger word): to be of low origin, natum esse obscuro, humili, or ignobili loco (Cic.), sordido loco (Liv.); parentibus humilibus natum esse (Cic.): of the lowest class, (homines) infimi ordinis (Cic.) or generis (Liv.); infimae sortis (Cic.): to raise one from the lowest post to the highest rank, ex humili loco perducere aliquem ad summam dignitatem (Cic.). (d) In mind or sentiment, humilis; abjectus; illiberalis; sordidus (e.g., animus). (e) In expression, humilis. A low word, verbum humile: low language, sermo plebeius (Cic., Fam., 9, 21, 1; opposed to sermo politus, ornatus, elegans). (f) Badly furnished or provided; e.g., to be low in the purse, imparatum esse a pecunia.

low adv.

PROP., humiliter (or by the adjective neuter).

Figuratively. (a) Of the voice, demissius (e.g., to begin low), demissius ordiri; demittere principium (Bau.); (in singing) gravius ordiri; demissiore sono incipere cantum.

low v.

(as cattle) mugire.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for low?: The usual Latin words for “low” are humilis, dēprimō, dēmittō; also gravis, lēnis, supprimō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.