proper noun · masculinesecond declension
Lepontiī
Lepontiī m pl (genitive Lepontiōrum)
Meaning
- The Lepontii (Celtic tribe)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | — | Lepontiī |
| genitive | — | Lepontiōrum |
| dative | — | Lepontiīs |
| accusative | — | Lepontiōs |
| ablative | — | Lepontiīs |
| vocative | — | Lepontiī |
Lēpontĭi, ōrum, m., = Ληπόντιοι,
I. a people of Cisalpine Gaul, on the Ticinus; their territory is the modern Val Leventina, Caes. B. G. 4, 10; Plin. 3, 20, 24, § 134; cf. Mann. Ital. 1, p. 181 sq.—Hence, *
II. Lēpontĭcus, i, m., a Lepontian, Sil. 4, 235.
Origins
Of Celtic/Gaulish origin, but the name's meaning is unclear; possibly from Proto-Indo-European *póntoh₁s (“path”), evolving into the sense of "lagoon" or "morass." If so, cognate with Old Armenian հուն (hun, “ford”), Ancient Greek πόντος (póntos, “the sea”).