English → Latin
“revolution” in Latin
circumactĭoa turning aroundcircumagōto drive or turn in a circle; to turn round; to turn a wheelambitusa going around, walking around; circuit; orbit, revolution, cycleconversiōthe act of turning round or revolving; revolution; the act of inverting; alteration, change; conversionsēditiōinsurrection, dissension, mutiny, sedition, rebellion, outbreak, uprising, riot; discord, strife, quarrel, turmoil, disssōlusalone, sole, only, by oneself with no others around; solitary, uninhabitedmōliorto strive, endeavor, work at; to put in motion, shake, move; to rouse, bestir
The English word revolution itself goes back to Latin volvō, through revolūtiō.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
revolution
Rotation, circular motion, circumactio: circumactus: ambitus (solis): ☞ not revolutio, which is very late; Augustin.
Change in a state or government, rerum publicarum commutatio or conversio: rerum mutatio: res commutatae: civilis pertuibatio, seditio (tumult, disorder). To seek or endeavor to effect a revolution, res novas quaerere or moliri; novis rebus studere; rerum evertendarum cupidum esse: to promote disturbances and revolutions in a state, novos motus conversionesque reipublicae quaerere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for revolution?
- The usual Latin words for “revolution” are circumactĭo, circumagō, ambitus; also conversiō, sēditiō, sōlus. 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.