LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

laetus1

laetus (feminine laeta, neuter laetum, comparative laetior, superlative laetissimus, adverb laetē)
Classical[ˈɫae̯.tʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈlɛː.tus]
№ 262 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. adjectivehappy, cheerful, glad
    Venit hiems: teritur Sicyonia baca trapetis, glande sues laeti redeunt, dant arbuta silvae; et varios ponit fetus autumnus et alteTranslation by James B. Greenough Winter is come: in olive-mills they bruise The Sicyonian berry; acorn-cheered The swine troop homeward; woods their arbutes yield; So, various fruit sheds Autumn, and high up On sunny rocks the mellowing vintage bakes.c. 37 BCE – 30 BCE, Vergilius, Georgicon 2.519
  2. adjectivefertile, luxuriant, lush, rich
    Ubi ager crassus et laetus est sine arboribus, eum agrum frumentarium esse oportet.Grain should be sown in heavy, rich, treeless soil.234 BCE – 149 BCE, Marcus Porcius Cato, De agri cultura 6

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

plēnus gaudiī; vultū rīdentī.
laetus -a -um — in Mille Verba, Animus et Adfectūs
glad, merry
laetus — in Seneca, ch. III

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Gaudere · Lætari · Hilaris · Alacer · Gestire · Exsultare

1. Gaudere (from γαῦρος) denotes joy as an inward state of mind, in opp. to dolor, like ἥδεσθαι; whereas lætari and hilarem esse, the utterance of joy. Tac. Hist. ii. 29. Ut valens processit, gaudium, miseratio, favor; versi in lætitiam . . . . laudantes gratantesque. 2. The lætus (from λιλαίομοι) shows his joy in a calm cheerfulness, which attests perfect satisfaction with the present, in opp. to mœstus, Tac. Ann. xv. 23; the hilaris (ἱλαρός) in awakened mirth, disposing to jest and laughter, in opp. to tristis; the alacer (ἀλκή) in energetic vivacity, evincing spirit and activity, in opp. to territus. Cic. Cœl. 28. The gaudens, the lætus, the hilaris, derive joy from a piece of good fortune; the alacer at the same time from employment and action. Cic. Divin. i. 33, 73. Equum alacrem lætus adspexit. Lætitia shows itself chiefly in an unwrinkled forehead, and a mouth curled for smiling; hilaritas, in eyes quickly moving, shining, and radiant with joy; alacritas, in eyes that roll, sparkle, and announce spirit. Sen. Ep. 116. Quantam serenitatem lætitia dat. Tac. Agr. 39. Fronte lætus, pectore anxius. Cic. Pis. 5. Te hilarioribus oculis quam solitus es intuente. 3. Gaudere and lætari denote a moderate; exsultare and gestire, and perhaps the antiquated word vitulari, a passionate, uncontrolled joy, as to exult and triumph; the gestiens (γηθεῖν) discovers this by an involuntary elevation of the whole being, sparkling eyes, inability to keep quiet, etc.; the exsultans, by a voluntary, full resignation of himself to joy, which displays itself, if not by skipping and jumping, at least by an indiscreet outbreak of joy, bordering on extravagance. 4. Jucundus denotes, like juvat me, a momentary excitement of joy; lætus, a more lasting state of joy; hence lætus is used as the stronger expression, in Plin. Ep. v. 12. Quam mihi a quocunque excoli jucundum, a te vero lætissimum est. (iii. 242.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativelaetuslaetalaetum
genitivelaetīlaetaelaetī
dativelaetōlaetaelaetō
accusativelaetumlaetamlaetum
ablativelaetōlaetālaetō
vocativelaetelaetalaetum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativelaetīlaetaelaeta
genitivelaetōrumlaetārumlaetōrum
dativelaetīslaetīslaetīs
accusativelaetōslaetāslaeta
ablativelaetīslaetīslaetīs
vocativelaetīlaetaelaeta

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

laetae segetes
the laughing cornfields.
laetissimi flores (Verr. 4. 48. 107)
a glorious expanse of flowers.

laetus, a, um, adj. Sanscr. root prī-, to cheer; prētis, joy, love; cf. Gr. πραΰς, πρᾷος; Germ. Friede, Freude; cf. also Latin gentile name, Plaetorius,
I. joyful, cheerful, glad, gay, joyous, rejoicing, pleased, delighted, full of joy.
I. Lit., constr. absol., with de, the gen., the inf., or acc. and inf.
(a). Absol.: laeti atque erecti, Cic. Font. 11, 33: alacres laetique, id. Sest. 1, 1: vultus, id. Att. 8, 9, 2: dies laetissimi, id. Lael. 3, 12.—In neutr. plur. as subst.: litterae tuae partim laeta partim tristia continent, Plin. Ep. 5, 9, 1.—
(b). With de: laetus est de amica, Ter. Ad. 2, 2, 45.—
(g). With gen.: laetus animi et ingenii, Vell. 2, 93, 1; Tac. A. 2, 26: laborum, Verg. A. 11, 73: irae, Sil. 17, 308.—
(d). With inf.: laetus uterque Spectari superis, Sil. 9, 453.—(ε) With acc. and inf.: laetus sum, fratri obtigisse quod volt, Ter. Phorm. 5, 4, 1: laeta est abs te (donum) datum esse, id. Eun. 3, 1, 2.—
II. Transf.
A. Doing a thing with joy, cheerful, ready, willing: senatus supplementum etiam laetus decreverat, Sall. J. 84, 3: descendere regno, Stat. Th. 2, 396: fatebere laetus nec surdum esse, etc., Juv. 13, 248.—
B. Delighting or taking pleasure in a thing; with abl. or inf.
(a). With abl.: et laetum equino sanguine Concanum, Hor. C. 3, 4, 34: laetus stridore catenae, Juv. 14, 23: plantaribus horti, id. 13, 123.—
(b). With inf.: et ferro vivere laetum Vulgus, Sil. 9, 223.—
C. Pleased, satisfied with any thing; delighting in; with abl.: classis Romana haudquaquam laeta praedā rediit, Liv. 27, 31: contentus modicis, meoque laetus, Mart. 4, 77, 2.—With gen.: laeta laborum, Verg. A. 11, 73: laetissimus viae, indulging to the full, Sil. 17, 308.—
D. Pleasing, pleasant, grateful: omnia erant facta hoc biduo laetiora, Cic. Att. 7, 26, 1: laetique nuntii vulgabantur, Tac. A. 1, 5: vitium laetissimi fructus, Cic. N. D. 2, 62, 156: virtus haud laeta tyranno, Val. Fl. 1, 30: militibus id nomen, Tac. H. 4, 68.—
E. Favorable, propitious, prosperous: venti, Val. Fl. 4, 31: sors, id. 4, 540: bellum, Sil. 10, 552; Plaut. Am. prol. 2: saecula, Verg. A. 1, 605: exta, Suet. Caes. 77: cujus (proelii) initium ambiguum, finis laetior, Tac. A. 12, 40.—
F. Fortunate, auspicious, lucky: prodigium, Plin. 11, 37, 77, § 197: augurium, Tac. H. 1, 62: laeta et congruentia exta, id. ib. 2, 4: omina, Petr. 122.—
G. Joyous in appearance, delightful, pleasing, beautiful: vite quid potest esse cum fructu laetius, tum aspectu pulchrius? Cic. de Sen. 15, 53: segetes, Verg. G. 1, 1: lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine, id. A. 1, 275: ferarum exuviis, Ov. M. 1, 475: indoles, Quint. 2, 4, 4: colles frondibus laeti, Curt. 5, 4, 9.—
2. In partic., in econom. lang., fertile, rich, of soil: ager, Varr. R. R. 1, 23: laeta Clitumni pascua, Juv. 12, 13.—Of cattle, fat: glande sues laeti redeunt, Verg. G. 2, 520.—
3. Abundant, copious: laeta magis pressis manabunt flumina mammis, Verg. G. 3, 310; 3, 494: lucus laetissimus umbrae, id. A. 1, 441.—Of style, etc., rich, copious, agreeable: nitidum quoddam genus est verborum et laetum, Cic. de Or. 1, 18, 81.—Of the author: (Homerus) laetus ac pressus, Quint. 10, 1, 46.—
H. Pleasant, agreeable: dicendi genus tenue laetioribus numeris corrumpere, Quint. 9, 4, 17.—In neutr. sing., adverbially: laetumque rubet, with joy, with pleasure, Stat. Ach. 1, 323.— Hence, adv.: laetē, joyfully, gladly, cheerfully.
1. Lit. (class.): auctorem senatus exstinctum laete atque insolenter tulit, Cic. Phil. 9, 3, 7: laete an severe dicere, Quint. 8, 3, 40.—Comp., Vell. 2, 45, 3: neque refert cujusquam Punicas Romanasve acies laetius extuleris, more eagerly, Tac. A. 4, 33: aliquid ausi laetius aut licentius, Quint. 2, 4, 14.—Sup.: laetissime gaudere, Gell. 3, 15, 2.—
2. Transf., fruitfully, abundantly, luxuriantly: seges laete virens, Plin. 33, 5, 27, § 89.—Comp.: truncus laetius frondet, more fruitfully, more luxuriantly, Col. 5, 9, 10; cf. Plin. 16, 31, 56, § 130.—
3. Lightly, not severely, without seriousness: si quis putet nos laetius fecisse quam orationis severitas exigat, Plin. Ep. 2, 5, 6.

Origins

Unknown; possibly related to alacer (“happy, glad, cheerful”). Often compared to lardum (“fat, bacon lard”) and largus (“abundant, bountiful”), presupposing an earlier form *lai-to and earlier *lai-es, but De Vaan finds this reconstruction problematic.

Ibero-Romance
  • Portugueseledofrom Old Galician-Portuguese ledo
  • Spanishledo
  • Asturianlleu
  • Leoneselledu
  • Galicianledofrom Old Galician-Portuguese ledo
Italo-Romance
  • Italianlieto
Gallo-Romance
  • Normanliementfrom Old French lié
noun · masculinesecond declension
laetus2
laetus m (genitive laetī)
Classical[ˈɫae̯.tʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈlɛː.tus]
№ 262 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. Late Latinmasculinea foreign bondman who received a piece of land to cultivate, for which he paid tribute to his master; a serf.

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativelaetuslaetī
genitivelaetīlaetōrum
dativelaetōlaetīs
accusativelaetumlaetōs
ablativelaetōlaetīs
vocativelaetelaetī

laetus, i, m., in late Lat.,
I. a foreign bondman who received a piece of land to cultivate, for which he paid tribute to his master, a serf, Amm. 20, 8, 13; Eum. Pan. 21, 1.—Hence,
A. laeta, ōrum, n., the land so cultivated, Cod. Th. 7, 20, 10.—
B. laetĭcus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to a laetus: laeticae terrae, Cod. Th. 13, 11, 9.

Origins

From Gothic *𐌻𐌴𐍄𐍃 (*lēts) (attested in Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌻𐌴𐍄𐍃 (fralēts, “freeman”)), from Proto-Germanic *lētaz, from Proto-Germanic *lētaną (“to let, rent, free, release”). Attested in the Lex Salica. Cognate with Old Frisian lēt (“serf”), Old English lǣt (“serf”), English let, liege.

Descendants
  • GermanLitefrom Old High German litus
  • Old Saxonlido
  • Old Saxonliddo
  • Old Saxonlitus
proper noun · masculinesecond declension
Laetus3
Laetus m sg (genitive Laetī)
Classical[ˈɫae̯.tʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈlɛː.tus]

Meaning

  1. masculinesingularA Roman cognomen — famously held by
  2. masculinesingularQuintus Maecius Laetus, a Roman consul

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeLaetus—
genitiveLaetī—
dativeLaetō—
accusativeLaetum—
ablativeLaetō—
vocativeLaete—

Origins

From laetus (“happy, joyful”).

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

Biography & mythologyLaetusLaetus. was one of the lieutenants of Septimius Severus in the campaign against the Arabians and Parthians, A. D. 195; and a few years afterwards (A. …

Quick answers

What does laetus mean in Latin?
laetus, a adjective, means “happy, cheerful, glad; fertile, luxuriant, lush, rich”.
How do you pronounce laetus?
In classical Latin, [ˈɫae̯.tʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈlɛː.tus].