English → Latin
“source” in Latin
fōnswater issuing from the ground, a spring; the water or waters of a river, sea etc.; a well, fountain or font (a large concaputthe head (of humans and animals); head; top; summit; point; end; extremity (beginning or end); origin; source; spring; hprī̆ncepsfirst, foremost; chief, distinguishedorīgōact, event or process of coming into existence: beginning, origination; event or process of being born, birth; origin, scausacause, reason; case, claim, contention; cause, judicial process, lawsuit
The English word source itself goes back to Latin regō, through surgō.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
source
PROP., fons (the water which rises, and the spot from which it springs): scaturigo (the springing water): caput (the place where a spring rises).
Figuratively, fons (general term): caput, principium (beginning). (The words are found in this connection and order.) fons et caput; principium et fons; origo (origin): causa (cause). (The words are found in this connection and order.) causa atque fons. From a good source; i. e., author, bono auctore: from an authentic source, certo, or haud incerto, auctore. Source of profit [Vid: PROFIT]. They were the sources, inde ducenda (repetenda); eo referenda; inde originem trahunt.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for source?
- The usual Latin words for “source” are fōns, caput, prī̆nceps; also orīgō, causa. 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.