English → Latin
“threshold” in Latin
līmenthreshold, doorstep, sill (bottom-most part of a doorway); lintel; threshold, entrance, doorway, approach; doorinitiumbeginning, start; a going in, entrance; rites, mysteriesineōto enter, go into; to begin; to have sexual intercourseexōrdiumbeginning, commencement; introduction, preface, start or beginning of a speech; foundation, creationprooemiuma preface, introduction, prelude; a beginningelementumone of four elements that composed the world; basic principle, rudiment; the alphabetrudīmentumfirst attempt; beginning, commencement; first principles; rudimentsincūnābulaswaddling clothes; the apparatus of the cradle; birthplace, origin
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
threshold
limen (PROP., and figuratively in poetry): initium (figuratively, beginning). To cross anybody’s threshold, limen alicujus intrare or inire: the threshold of a speech, prima orationis verba, exordium, prooemium (☞ not initium in this connection): the threshold of an art or science, elementa, rudimenta, incunabula, plur. ☞ The word in its figurative sense may often be rendered by circumlocution with primus.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for threshold?
- The usual Latin words for “threshold” are līmen, initium, ineō; also exōrdium, prooemium, elementum. 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.