LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

thyrsus1

thyrsus m (genitive thyrsī)
Classical[ˈtʰyr.sʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈtir.sus]

Meaning

  1. masculinethyrsus

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

hasta Bacchī, foliīs tēcta
thyrsus -ī (m) — in Metamorphoses I, ch. 22

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativethyrsusthyrsī
genitivethyrsīthyrsōrum
dativethyrsōthyrsīs
accusativethyrsumthyrsōs
ablativethyrsōthyrsīs
vocativethyrsethyrsī

thyrsus, i, m., = θύρσος,
I. a stalk, stem of a plant.
I. Lit., Plin. 19, 8, 39, § 129; 25, 8, 41, § 81; 26, 8, 33, § 51; Suet. Aug. 77; Col. 10, 370.—
II. Transf.
A. A staff twined round with ivy and vine-shoots, borne by Bacchus and the Bacchantes; the Bacchic staff, thyrsus, Hor. C. 2, 19, 8; Ov. M. 3, 542; 3, 712; 4, 7; 9, 641; 11, 28; Stat. Th. 9, 614; Sen. Herc. Fur. 904; id. Oedip. 628 al. — Hence, poet. transf.,
B. A thorn, goad: acri Percussit thyrso laudis spes magna meum cor, Lucr. 1, 923; Ov. Tr. 4, 1, 43.

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek θύρσος (thúrsos, “plant-stalk, Bacchic staff”).

Descendants
  • Italiantorso
  • Englishtorsofrom Italian torso
  • Frenchtorsefrom Italian torso
  • Englishtorsefrom Italian torso
  • Portuguesetorsofrom Italian torso
  • Spanishtorsofrom Italian torso
  • Englishthyrsus
  • Italiantirso
  • Frenchthyrsefrom Middle French thyrse
  • Englishthyrsefrom Middle French thyrse

In English words that came into English from thyrsus

  • torsotursus
  • thyrsusthyrsus
  • thyrsethyrsus

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesThyrsusThyrsus (θύρσος), a wand or sceptre carried by Dionysos (Bacchus) and by Satyrs, Maenads, and others engaged in Bacchic rites (Eurip. Bacchae, 25, 80,…
proper noun · masculinesecond declension
Thyrsus2
Thyrsus m sg (genitive Thyrsī)
Classical[ˈtʰyr.sʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈtir.sus]

Meaning

  1. masculinesingularThe most considerable river of Sardinia, still called Tirso

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeThyrsus—
genitiveThyrsī—
dativeThyrsō—
accusativeThyrsum—
ablativeThyrsō—
vocativeThyrse—

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Θύρσος (Thúrsos).

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesThyrsusThyrsus (θύρσος), a wand or sceptre carried by Dionysos (Bacchus) and by Satyrs, Maenads, and others engaged in Bacchic rites (Eurip. Bacchae, 25, 80,…GeographyThyrsusThyrsus or TYRSUS (Θύρσος ποταμός, Ptol.; Θόρσος, Paus.: Tirso), the most considerable river of Sardinia, which still retains its ancient name almost …Biography & mythologyThyrsusThyrsus (Θύρσος), a freedman of Octavian, whom the latter sent to Cleopatra at Alexandria, after the battle of Actium. Dio Cassius relates that Octavi…

Quick answers

What does thyrsus mean in Latin?
thyrsus, a noun, means “thyrsus”.
What is the genitive of thyrsus?
The genitive singular is thyrsī. thyrsus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce thyrsus?
In classical Latin, [ˈtʰyr.sʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈtir.sus].
Which English words come from thyrsus?
English words that go back to Latin thyrsus include thyrsus, thyrse and torso.