LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

socius1

socius (feminine socia, neuter socium)
Classical[ˈsɔ.ki.ʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈsɔː.t͡ʃi.us]
№ 372 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. adjectivesharing, joining in, partaking, associated
  2. adjectivekindred, related, akin, ally
  3. adjectiveleagued, allied, united, confederate

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

quī nōbīscum stat in bellō; amīcus populī.
socius -ī m — in Mille Verba, Bellum et Arma
comes itineris
socius -ī (m) — in Aeneis, ch. 2

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Socius · Sodalis · Amicus · Familiaris · Particeps · Consors

1. Socii (from sequi) are bound by common interests to act together, as partners, companions, etc.; sodales and socienni, like ἑταῖροι, are bound only by being pleased with each to the common enjoyment of life, as comrades and good friends; but sodalis (from ἔθος, ἠθεῖος) is the more elevated, sociennus, a more comic expression. Socius is generally in construction with an objective genitive, which names the purpose of the sociatio; whereas sodalis only with a subjective genitive, which names the other sodalis; socius periculi, culpæ, but sodalis meus. 2. Sodalis is a good friend, with whom one stands in a sociable, that is to say, a calm state of intercourse; amicus, a friend, with whom one exchanges the sacred feeling of love and respect; familiaris, a confidant, to whom one is bound, as one heart and soul, in mirth and sorrow. 3. The socius rei is considered in the state of a fellow-laborer or fellow-sufferer; the particeps and consors as sharers in an enjoyment or in a possession; the particeps, because he voluntarily takes a part in a thing, in opp. to expers, like μέτοχος; the consors, because, without co-operating, he is entitled to a share, in opp. to exsors. Cic. Balb. 28. Fuit hic multorum illi laborum socius aliquando; est fortasse nunc nonnullorum particeps commodorum. Liv. xxi. 41, and Suet. Aug. 25. The co-regent is socius imperii, so far as he shares in the business of government; consors, so far as the office is merely honorary. (iv. 208.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativesociussociasocium
genitivesociīsociaesociī
dativesociōsociaesociō
accusativesociumsociamsocium
ablativesociōsociāsociō
vocativesociesociasocium
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativesociīsociaesocia
genitivesociōrumsociārumsociōrum
dativesociīssociīssociīs
accusativesociōssociāssocia
ablativesociīssociīssociīs
vocativesociīsociaesocia

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

aliquem socium admittere
to admit a person into one's society.
socium se adiungere alicui
to attach oneself to a person's society.
consiliorum in re publica socius
a political ally.
socium aliquem asciscere (B. G. 1. 5)
to make some one one's ally.

sŏcĭus, a, um, adj. root sec- of sequor,
I. sharing, joining in, partaking, united, associated, kindred, allied, fellow (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; cf. subst. infra): hic (Augustus) socium cum Jove nomen habet, Ov. F. 1, 608: aurea possedit socio Capitolia templo Mater, i. e. in common with Jupiter, id. ib. 6, 73: regnum, id. M. 5, 378: classis, id. ib. 13, 352: sepulcrum, id. H. 11, 123: lectus, id. A. A. 2, 377: ignes, id. M. 9, 795: anni, id. H. 2, 33: linguae, id. Tr. 5, 10, 35: dei, id. F. 2, 618: spes, id. M. 13, 375: sociis quid noctibus uxor anxia, Stat. S. 3, 5, 1: platanus clara in Lyciā gelidi fontis sociā amoenitate, Plin. 12, 1, 5, § 9: potestas, Amm. 26, 2, 8.—
II. Esp., leagued, allied, confederate: cura sociae retinendae urbis, Liv. 27, 1; so, urbs, id. 31, 24: civitates, id. 41, 6 fin.; Quint. 3, 8, 12; cf.: civitas nobis, Tac. A. 13, 57: agmina, Verg. A. 2, 371: manus, i. e. of the allies (in the Bellum Sociale), Ov. Am. 3, 15, 10: classis, id. M. 13, 352: arma, Sil. 7, 635.—Hence, substt
A. sŏcĭus, i, m. (gen. plur. socium, Liv. 43, 6, 12; 44, 21, 10; v. II. B. infra; also in the poets, Verg. A. 5, 174; Prop. 3, 7, 41; Neue, Formenl. 1, 112 sq.).
1. In gen., fellow, sharer, partner, comrade, companion, associate (very freq. and class.; syn.: consors, particeps): belli particeps et socius et adjutor, Cic. Att. 9, 10, 5; cf.: consiliorum omnium particeps et socius paene regni, id. Rep. 2, 20, 35; cf.: regni sociis, Luc. 1, 92: hereditatis, Plin. Pan. 38: tuorum consiliorum (with particeps), Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 22: fortunarum omnium (with particeps), Cic. Font. 17, 37 (21, 47): me quidem certe tuarum actionum, sententiarum, rerum denique omnium socium comitemque habebis, id. Fam. 1, 9, 22: praeter Laelium neminem habeo culpae socium, id. Att. 11, 14, 1: Agusius, omnium laborum, periculorum meorum socius, id. Fam. 13, 71: socius et consors gloriosi laboris, id. Brut. 1, 2; Sall. J. 29, 2: Romuli socius in Sabino proelio, Cic. Rep. 2, 8, 14; for which, with dat.: alicui socius, Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 72: hunc cape consiliis socium, Verg. A. 5, 712: hos castris adhibe socios, id. 8, 56: socium esse in negotiis, Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 9: quia sine sociis nemo quicquam tale conatur, Cic. Lael. 12, 42: socium ad malam rem quaerere, Plaut. As. 2, 2, 22: cum sociis operum, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 142: ante alios Infert se socium Aeneas, Verg. A. 4, 142: amissā sociorum parte, Ov. M. 14, 242.— Poet.: generis socii, i. e. relatives, Ov. M. 3, 259; cf. sanguinis, id. Tr. 4, 5, 29: tori, i. e. a spouse, consort, id. M. 14, 678.—
2. In partic.
a. In mercant. lang., a copartner, partner in business: socii putandi sunt, quos inter res communicata est, etc., Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 20, § 50; id. Rosc. Am. 40, 116; id. Quint. 3, 12: nefarium est socium fallere qui se in negotio conjunxit, id. Rosc. Com. 6, 16.—So, socii, of the company of farmers of the public revenue, Cic. Fam. 13, 9, 3; Plin. 33, 7, 40, § 120; cf. societas, II. A. 2. —Hence,
(b). Jurid. t. t.: pro socio (agere, damnari, etc.), for defrauding a partner, Cic. Fl. 18, 43; id. Quint. 3, 13; cf. Dig. 17, tit. 2: , Pro socio.—
b. In publicists' lang., an ally, confederate (cf. foederatus); plur., Plaut. Men. 1, 2, 25: servate vestros socios, id. Cist. 1, 3, 51: Boios receptos ad se socios sibi asciscunt, Caes. B. G. 1, 5 fin.; 1, 11 fin.; 1, 14; 1, 15; 1, 36: Cyprius rex, cujus majores huic populo socii atque amici semper fuerunt, Cic. Dom. 20, 52; Liv. 29, 17; 44, 1 et saep. al.; opp. hostes, Sall. C. 51, 38; id. J. 92, 2.—Sing.: socius et amicus populi Romani, Sall. J. 24, 3.—In the connection, socii et Latini, or, more freq., socii et nomen Latinum, the term socii denotes the Italian people dwelling out of Latium who were under the protection of and allied with Rome, the Italian allies, Cic. Lael. 3, 12; id. Rep. 6, 12, 12; id. Sest. 13, 30; id. Rep. 1, 19, 31; 3, 29, 41; Sall. J. 39, 2; 42, 1: socii nomenque Latinum, id. ib. 43, 4 Kritz N. cr.; Liv. 29, 27; for which, also: socii ac nominis Latini, id. 41, 8; and without ellipsis: per homines nominis Latini et socios Italicos impedimenta parabant, Sall. J. 40, 2; cf. also: quos (milites) uti ex Latio et a sociis cogeret, id. ib. 95, 1. —The socii Latini nominis, on the other hand, are simply the Latin allies, the Latins, Liv. 40, 36; 32, 8; 41, 12: socii ab nomine Latino, id. 22, 38.—In this sense the gen. plur. is usually socium, Liv. 21, 17, 2; 22, 27, 11 et saep.: socii navales, id. 21, 50; v. navalis.—
B. sŏcĭa, ae, f.: eos, qui nos socias sumpserunt sibi, Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 45: (eloquentia) pacis est comes otiique socia, Cic. Brut. 12, 45: vitae socia virtus, mortis comes gloria, id. Font. 17, 39 (21, 49); cf.: est socia mortis homini vita ingloria, Publ. Syr. App. 213 Rib.: nox socia, Cic. Phil. 2, 18, 45: quam plurimas uxores habent.... nulla pro sociā obtinet, Sall. J. 80, 7: addit se sociam, Verg. E. 6, 20: socias sorores Impietatis habet, Ov. M. 4, 3: hic socias tu quoque junge moras, id. A. A. 1, 492: sociae doloris casusque tui, App. M. 5, p. 166, 18.—Poet.: socia generisque torique, related by blood and marriage, relative and wife (Juno), Ov. M. 1, 620; so, tori, id. ib. 8, 521; 10, 268: ulmus cum sociā vite, id. ib. 14, 662.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sekʷ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sokʷéh₂
  3. Proto-Indo-European*sokʷh₂ṓy
  4. Proto-Indo-European*sokʷyós
  5. Proto-Italic*sokjos
  6. Latinsocius

Latin socius From Archaic Latin sokios, from Proto-Italic *sokjos, from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-(h₂)-y-ós (“follower, companion”) (identical to Proto-Germanic *sagjaz), perhaps thematicized from collective *sokʷ-h₂-ṓy (compare Sanskrit सखि (sákhi, “companion”)), ultimately from the root *sekʷ- (“to follow”). Compare Faliscan socia (“girlfriend, companion”).

In English words that came into English from socius

  • societysocietas
  • socialsociālis
  • sociablesociābilis
  • dissociatedissociō
  • associateassociātus
  • societismsocietās
  • socialitysociālitās
  • sociabilitysociābilis
  • sociussocius
  • consociatecōnsociātus
noun · masculinesecond declension
socius2
socius m (genitive sociī or socī)
Classical[ˈsɔ.ki.ʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈsɔː.t͡ʃi.us]
№ 372 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. masculinepartner, sharer, associate
  2. masculinecompanion, comrade
  3. masculineally; confederate

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativesociussociī
genitivesociī
socī		sociōrum
dativesociōsociīs
accusativesociumsociōs
ablativesociōsociīs
vocativesociesociī

Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.

socius ī, m
(gen plur. sociūm, L., V.), a fellow, sharer, partner, comrade, companion, associate: belli particeps et socius: regni: neminem habeo culpae socium: gloriosi laboris: Hunc cape consiliis socium, V.: socium esse in negotiis, T.: Cum sociis operum, H.: amissā sociorum parte, O.: generis socii, i. e. relatives, O.: tori, i. e. consort, O.—In business, an associate, copartner, partner: socii putandi sunt, quos inter res communicata est: utilitas sociorum per te defensa, of the members of the company: furti et pro socio damnatus, for defrauding a partner.—In public life, an ally, confederate, friend: Boios socios sibi asciscunt, Cs.: socii atque amici populi R.: omnes, socii atque hostes, S.—In phrases with Latini or nomen Latinum, to denote the whole body of Italian confederates of Rome: socii et Latini, i. e. the Italian allies in and beyond Latium: ab sociis et nomine Latino auxilia accersere, S.: socii ac nominis Latini, L.: socii Latini nominis, the Latin allies, L.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sekʷ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sokʷéh₂
  3. Proto-Indo-European*sokʷh₂ṓy
  4. Proto-Indo-European*sokʷyós
  5. Proto-Italic*sokjos
  6. Latinsocius

Latin socius From Archaic Latin sokios, from Proto-Italic *sokjos, from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-(h₂)-y-ós (“follower, companion”) (identical to Proto-Germanic *sagjaz), perhaps thematicized from collective *sokʷ-h₂-ṓy (compare Sanskrit सखि (sákhi, “companion”)), ultimately from the root *sekʷ- (“to follow”). Compare Faliscan socia (“girlfriend, companion”).

Elsewhere
  • Italiansoccio
  • Catalansoci
  • Englishsocio-
  • GermanSozius
  • Italiansocio
  • Portuguesesócio
  • Spanishsocio
  • Romaniansoațăfrom Latin socia
  • Italiansocciafrom Latin socia
  • Catalansòciafrom Latin socia
Eastern Romance
  • Romaniansoț
  • Aromaniansots

In English words that came into English from socius

  • sociologysocius

Quick answers

What does socius mean in Latin?
socius, a adjective, means “sharing, joining in, partaking, associated; kindred, related, akin, ally; leagued, allied, united, confederate”.
How do you pronounce socius?
In classical Latin, [ˈsɔ.ki.ʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈsɔː.t͡ʃi.us].
Where does socius come from?
Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- → Proto-Indo-European *sokʷéh₂ → Proto-Indo-European *sokʷh₂ṓy → Proto-Indo-European *sokʷyós → Proto-Italic *sokjos → Latin socius.
Which English words come from socius?
English words that go back to Latin socius include socius, society, social, societism, sociable and dissociate.