LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun

gĕlum

Meaning

  1. icy coldness

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Frigere · Algere · Algidus · Alsus · Gelidus · Frigus · Gelu · Glacies

Frigere (φρίξαι) means to be cold, in opp. to calere, Cic. Fam. viii. 8. Auct. Her. iv. 15. Sen. Ir. ii. 18; whereas algere (ἀλγεῖν) means to feel cold, in opp. to æstuare. Cic. Tusc. ii. 14, 34. Sen. Ir. iii. 12. Plin. H. N. xvii. 26. 2. Algidus denotes cold, as an unpleasant chill; alsus, as a refreshing coolness. 3. Frigidus denotes a moderate degree of coldness, in opp. to calidus; whereas gelidus means on the point of freezing, in opp. to fervidus. 4. Frigus denotes, objectively, cold in itself, which attacks a man, and leaves him; whereas frigedo denotes cold, subjectively, as the state of a man attacked by cold, which begins and ends; it is an antiquated word which has become obsolete by the general use of frigus. 5. Gelu, gelus, gelum, (γλοία) denote, like κρύος, cold that produces ice; gelicidium, like κρυμός, a single attack of frost, a frosty night; and glacies, like κρύσταλλος, its effect, ice. (iii. 89.)

gĕlum, i, n., and gĕlus, ūs, m. (nom. gelu, n., Prisc. 658 P.; but only found in Liv. ap. Non. 207, 30, a corrupt passage; and freq. in Vulg., e. g. Dan. 3, 69;
I. Zach. 14, 6: gelum, Lucr. 6, 877; Varr. R. R. 1, 45, 2; gen. geli, Lucr. 5, 205 al.; nom. gelus, Att. ap. Prisc. 6, p. 685 P.; cf. Non. 208, 1, Fragm Trag. v. 390 Rib.; Afran. ap. Non. 207, 32, Com. Fragm. v. 106 Rib.; Cato, R. R. 40, 4 al.; acc. gelum, m., Cat. Orig. 2, Fragm. 30; abl. gelu, m., Mela, 3, 5 ext.; Flor. 4, 12, 18; Plin. Pan. 12) [root γαλ-, to be bright; whence γελάω, to laugh (cf. κυμάτων γέλασμα, Aesch. Pr. 90); γάλα, milk; γαλήνη, calm; cf.: lac, glacies; cf. Georg Curtius Gr. Etym. p. 172], icy coldness, frost, cold (cf.: pruina, glacies, rigor).
I. In gen.: praeusti artus, nive rigentes nervi, membra torrida gelu, Liv. 21, 40, 9: nec ventus fraudi, solve geluve fuit, Ov. de Nuce, 106: et maris adstricto quae coit unda gelu, id. Tr. 2, 196: altitudo gelūs, Plin. 8, 28, 42, § 103: geluque Flumina constiterint acuto, Hor. C. 1, 9, 3: rura gelu tum claudit hiems, Verg. G. 2, 317: horrida cano Bruma gelu, id. ib. 3, 442; Stat. Th. 5, 392.—
II. In partic., coldness, chill produced by death, old age, fright, etc. (cf. gelidus, II.; poet.): pectora pigro Stricta gelu, Luc. 4, 653: sed mihi tarda gelu saeclisque effeta senectus, Verg. A. 8, 508; Sen. Troad. 624.

Quick answers

What does gĕlum mean in Latin?
gĕlum, a noun, means “icy coldness”.