LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

herpēs

herpēs m (genitive herpētis)
Classical[ˈhɛr.peːs]Ecclesiastical[ˈɛr.pes]

Meaning

  1. herpes
  2. an unknown sort of animal, perhaps a kind of mongoose

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeherpēsherpētēs
genitiveherpētisherpētum
dativeherpētīherpētibus
accusativeherpētemherpētēs
ablativeherpēteherpētibus
vocativeherpēsherpētēs

herpes, ētis, m., = ἕρπης.
I. A cutaneous eruption that creeps and spreads, Plin. 26, 14, 87, § 145; and perh. Lucil. ap. Non. 117, 22, where others read herpestica (in Cels. 5, 28, 3, written as Greek).—
II. Herpes quoque animal a Graecis vocatur, quo praecipue sanantur quaecumque serpunt, Plin. 30, 13, 39, § 116.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*serp-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sérpeti
  3. Ancient Greek ἕρπω(hérpō)
  4. Latinherpēs

Ancient Greek ἕρπης (hérpēs)bor. Latin herpēs Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἕρπης (hérpēs).

In English words that came into English from herpēs

  • herpesherpēs

Quick answers

What does herpēs mean in Latin?
herpēs, a noun, means “herpes; an unknown sort of animal, perhaps a kind of mongoose”.
What is the genitive of herpēs?
The genitive singular is herpētis. herpēs is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce herpēs?
In classical Latin, [ˈhɛr.peːs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈɛr.pes].
Where does herpēs come from?
Proto-Indo-European *serp- → Proto-Indo-European *sérpeti → Ancient Greek ἕρπω (hérpō) → Latin herpēs.