What is the Latin word for measure?

The usual Latin words for “measure” are mētior, modus, moderātiō; also ratiō, cōnsilium, mora. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“measure” in Latin

mētiorto measure or estimate; to distribute or mete out; to traverse modusmeasure; bound, limit, end; manner (of doing or being arranged), way (of doing or being arranged), method moderātiōmoderation; self-control; guidance ratiōreason, reasoning, explanation, ground, motive, rationality, rationale, purpose; calculation, account, accounting, recko cōnsiliumplan, intention, design, purpose; counsel, advice; determination, resolve, resolution moraa duration of time before an event takes place, delay; a delay in the performance of an action, putting off; hindrance vēndōto sell, vend cumulōto heap, pile up, amass, accumulate; to fill by heaping, overload; to increase, augment dīmētiorto measure (out or off)

The English word measure itself goes back to Latin mētior, through mēnsūra.

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

measure s.

Criterion of quantity, mensura (that by which anything is measured, PROP. and figuratively, abstract and concrete): modus (relation to be observed, limit): moderatio (observing due measure): measures and weights, mensurae et pondera: a measure heaped up, mensura cumulata: measure of a syllable, mora (grammatical): to take a measure of anything, mensuram alicujus rei inire: to take a person’s measure for clothes, vestem conficiendam ad corporis modulum metiri (after Suet., Ner., 49): to buy or sell anything by measure, aliquid mensura emere, vendere: with full measure, pleno modio; cumulate: *in full measure abunde, affatim (enough, or more than enough): according to measure, pro modo; pro ratione; but usually by pro with an ablative; e.g., pro viribus agere: without measure, sine modo; praeter, extra, supra modum; immodice; immoderate: to observe measure, modum tenere, retinere, servare; modum or moderationem adhibere or habere (in aliqua re): not to observe measure, to exceed it modum non servare; modum excedere, transire; extra modum prodire: to set measure to a thing, modum facere, ponere, statuere, constituere alicui rei (to determine how far to go): finem facere alicujus rei and alicui rei (to put un end to a thing).

Plan, means, ratio (mode of procedure): consilium (plan): a prudent measure, consilium prudens: mild measures, mollia consilia (after Tac., Ann., 1, 40, 1, where we find the more rare mollia consulta): to take a measure, rationem inire; consilium capere: to adapt measures to time and circumstances, consilium pro tempore et pro re capere: to adopt good measures, bonis consiliis uti; consilia alicui rei accommodata capere: to adopt more vigorous measures, fortioribus remediis uti: to take the necessary measures, providere quae tempus monet: to taki one’s measures according to anything, se fingere ex aliqua re (Cic., Att., 6, 3, 4): to take measures against anything, alicui rei occurrere: to take measures for the future, de consiliis in posterum providere.

measure v.

metiri (to take a measure): dimetiri (to take all the dimensions; ☞ metari and demetiri denote “to measure out”): mensuram alicujus rei inire (to undertake the measuring): to measure money with a bushel, nummos metiri modio: to measure metrical feet, pedes syllabarum metiri: to measure one’s self with anyone; i. e., (a) to compare one’s self with, se comparare cum aliquo; se conferre alicui: (b) to try ones strength with, experiri aliquem (Vid: Bremi, Nep., Ham., 4, 3): contendere cum aliquo (to enter the lists with). To MEASURE BY, aliquid dirigere ad aliquid or aliqua re dirigere aliquid; modulari aliquid aliqua re (to regulate the measure of anything by another): to measure anything by the rules of art, ad artem dirigere aliquid: to measure duty by advantage, utilitate dirigere officium: to measure the voice by the beat of the feet, sonum vocis modulari pulsu pedum: to measure by, i. e., to regulate according or with reference to, metiri aliquid aliqua re. To MEASURE OUT (for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of a thing), metiri; emetiri; dimetiri (to distribute by measure): permetiri (to measure through): admetiri (to measure to anyone): dimetare (to mark out, according its single parts): to measure out a camp, castra metare; locum castris dimetare.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for measure?: The usual Latin words for “measure” are mētior, modus, moderātiō; also ratiō, cōnsilium, mora. 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.