LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

grossus1

grossus (feminine grossa, neuter grossum, comparative grossior)
Classical[ˈɡrɔs.sʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈɡrɔs.sus]

Meaning

  1. adjectivestout, fat, thick
  2. Late Latinadjectivecoarse, rough

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Gradus · Gressus · Passus

1. Gressus denotes a step subjectively, whereas gradus objectively. Gressus is a step that is being taken; gradus that is taken. 2. Gressus is a product of going, but passus, of standing also, if the feet are at the same distance from each other as in walking. Gressus denotes any separation of the feet, whether longer or shorter, quicker or slower, whether deserving the name of step or not; whereas passus means a regular measured step, which at the same time serves as a measure of length. Virg. Æn. i. 414. Tendere gressus ad mœnia: comp. with ii. 723. Iulus sequitur patrem non passibus æquis. (iv. 58.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativegrossusgrossagrossum
genitivegrossīgrossaegrossī
dativegrossōgrossaegrossō
accusativegrossumgrossamgrossum
ablativegrossōgrossāgrossō
vocativegrossegrossagrossum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativegrossīgrossaegrossa
genitivegrossōrumgrossārumgrossōrum
dativegrossīsgrossīsgrossīs
accusativegrossōsgrossāsgrossa
ablativegrossīsgrossīsgrossīs
vocativegrossīgrossaegrossa

grossus, a, um, adj. kindred with crassus,
I. thick (late Lat.): virga, Cassiod. Hist. Eccl. 10, 33.—Comp.: vestis grossior, Sulp. Sev. Dal. 1, 21; Vulg. Ezech. 41, 25; 1 Reg. 12, 10; 2 Chron. 10, 10.—Sup., Cassiod. in Psa. 29, 12; cf.: grossus παχύς, Gloss. Philox.—Hence, adv. only comp.: gros-sĭus, more roughly: definire, Aug. de Duab. Anim. 11, 15.

Origins

Of uncertain origin. Attested since the first century AD in sense 1 and since the time of Augustine in sense 2. Likely a slang term dating back further still. Often compared to crassus (synonym for sense 1) or to the noun grossus (“unripened fig”). Perhaps cognate with Proto-Celtic *brassos (“great, violent”) via a Proto-Indo-European *gʷroD-to-.

Descendants
  • Catalangros
  • Catalangruix
  • Italiangrosso
  • Occitangròs
  • Frenchgrosfrom Old French gros
  • Catalangrofrom Old French gros
  • Englishgrossfrom Old French gros
  • Spanishgrofrom Old French gros
  • Portuguesegrossofrom Old Galician-Portuguese grosso
  • Spanishgruesofrom Old Spanish gruesso

In English words that came into English from grossus

  • grossgrossus
  • engrossingrossō
noun · masculinesecond declension
grossus2
grossus m or f (genitive grossī)
Classical[ˈɡrɔs.sʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈɡrɔs.sus]

Meaning

  1. femininemasculinean unripe fig
    Cauliculī aut grossī eius quam minūtissimae ad scorpiōnum ictūs ē vīnō bibuntur.Its little stalks or the as small as possible unripe figs are drunk from wine for scorpion stings.77 CE – 79 CE, Plinius Maior, Naturalis Historia 23.64.129

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativegrossusgrossī
genitivegrossīgrossōrum
dativegrossōgrossīs
accusativegrossumgrossōs
ablativegrossōgrossīs
vocativegrossegrossī

grossus, i, m. and f.,
I. an unripe fig, Cato, R. R. 94; Cels. 5, 12; Plin. 23, 7, 63, § 125; 17, 27, 43, § 254.

Origins

Possibly linked to etymology 1 above. Attested since the time of Cato.

Quick answers

What does grossus mean in Latin?
grossus, a adjective, means “stout, fat, thick; coarse, rough”.
How do you pronounce grossus?
In classical Latin, [ˈɡrɔs.sʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈɡrɔs.sus].