English → Latin
“wisdom” in Latin
sapientiawisdom, discernment, memory; science, skilled practicesciōto be able to, to know (how to do), understand, to have practical knowledge; to have had sex with, have ever slept withsummatop, summit, highest point or place; the principal or main thing; sum, summary, totaladmīrābilisadmirable, wonderful, worthy of admiration; surprising, astonishing, amazing, rare, strange, producing wonderincrēdibilisunbelievable, incrediblesingulārissingular, unique, unusual; alone, single, solitary; nonpareil, peerless, unequalled. unmatched, exceptionalperfectuscomplete; perfect; excellent; exquisite; talented; accomplished (of very high skill)praeclārusvery clear or bright; famous; noble, excellentpraestōto be preferable, better, coupled with quam; to be outstanding, be exceeding in something, to excel, stand out, be superglōriōsusglorious, full of glory; famous, renowned; boasting, boastful, haughty, conceited, proud, eager for glory
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
wisdom
sapientia (epithet, magna, summa, admirabilis, incredibilis; singularis; paene divina, perfecta, Cic.; consummata, Sen.; praeclara, praestans, gloriosa; tenuis; perversa, Cic.). ☞ Cic. defines it thus: rerum divinarum et humanarum scientia; rerum divinarum et humanarum causarumque, quibus hae res continentur, scientia; and he calls it mater omnium bonarum artium; princeps omnium virtutum. To acquire wisdom, sapientiam adipisci, sibi parare, assequi: you are absolute wisdom, tu quantus quantus nil nisi sapientia es (Terentianus).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for wisdom?
- The usual Latin words for “wisdom” are sapientia, sciō, summa; also admīrābilis, incrēdibilis, singulāris. 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.