LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

lemurēs

lemurēs m pl (genitive lemurum)
Classical[ˈɫɛ.mʊ.reːs]Ecclesiastical[ˈlɛː.mu.res]

Meaning

  1. Romanshades, ghosts of the departed
  2. ghosts, spectres

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Spectrum · Mostellum · Manes · Lemures

Spectrum denotes the apparition of a departed spirit, as a supernatural appearance; mostellum (dimin. from monstrum) as a horrible apparition; manes (from ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα) as the apparition of a good spirit; lemures, as that of a hobgoblin. (vi. 344.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominative—lemurēs
genitive—lemurum
dative—lemuribus
accusative—lemurēs
ablative—lemuribus
vocative—lemurēs

Lĕmŭres, um, m.,
I. shades, ghosts of the departed.
I. Lit.: Lemures animas dixere silentum, Ov. F. 5, 483.—
B. Transf., in gen., ghosts, spectres: lemures larvae nocturnae et terrificationes imaginum et bestiarum, Non. 135, 15 sq.: somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, sagas, Nocturnos lemures portentaque Thessala rides, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 209: tunc nigri lemures ovoque pericula rupto, Pers. 5, 185.—Hence,
II. Lĕmū-rĭa, ōrum, n., a festival held on the 9th, 11th, and 13th of May to appease the ghosts of the departed: nocturna, Ov. F. 5, 421 sq.

Origins

According to De Vaan, from a substrate source along with Ancient Greek Λᾰ́μῐᾰ (Lắmĭă), possibly Etruscan or Anatolian. The two words may have existed as a late Proto-Indo-European stem *lem- (“ghost, nocturnal spirit”).

Descendants
  • Englishlemur
  • Englishlemures
  • Frenchlémur
  • Frenchlémure
  • Portugueselémure

Quick answers

What does lemurēs mean in Latin?
lemurēs, a noun, means “shades, ghosts of the departed; ghosts, spectres”.
What is the genitive of lemurēs?
The genitive singular is lemurum. lemurēs is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce lemurēs?
In classical Latin, [ˈɫɛ.mʊ.reːs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈlɛː.mu.res].