LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininethird declension

vulpēs

vulpēs f (genitive vulpis)
Classical[ˈwʊɫ.peːs]Ecclesiastical[ˈvul.pes]

Meaning

  1. a fox, vixen
  2. figurativelysmartness, strategy, quick thinking, adaptability, craftiness, cunning, cleverness, wisdom
  3. a kind of shark

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativevulpēsvulpēs
genitivevulpisvulpium
dativevulpīvulpibus
accusativevulpemvulpēs
vulpīs
ablativevulpevulpibus
vocativevulpēsvulpēs

vulpes (volp-), is (collat. form, nom. vulpis, Petr. 58; Avien. 40, 7), f. cf. Gr. ἀλώπηξ,
I. a fox.
I. Lit., Plin. 28, 11, 46, § 165; Hor. S. 2, 3, 186; id. Ep. 1, 1, 73; id. C. 3, 27, 4 al.—
II. Trop., cunning, craftiness: animi sub vulpe latentes, Hor. A. P. 437; Pers. 5, 117.—Prov.
a. Jungere vulpes, for any absurd or impossible undertaking, Verg. E. 3, 91.—
b. Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores, Suet. Vesp. 16.—
c. Tam facile, quam pirum vulpes comest, Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 32.—
III. Transf.: vulpes marina, a kind of shark: Squalus alopecia, Linn.; Plin. 9, 43, 67, § 145.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂wl̥p-i-s
  2. Proto-Italic*wolpis
  3. Latinvulpēs

Latin vulpēs From earlier volpēs, from Proto-Italic *wolpis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wl̥p-i-s (“marten, cat”). (compare Sanskrit लोपाश (lopāśá), Breton louarn, Lithuanian lãpė, Ancient Greek ἀλώπηξ (alṓpēx), Persian روباه (rubâh)), with an analogous gender change. Possibly a conflation with earlier words for "wolf"; see wĺ̥kʷos.

Descendants
  • Catalanvolp
  • Italianvolpe
  • Occitanvolp
  • Romanianvulpe
  • Romanianhulpe
  • Romanianвулпе
  • Aromanianvulpi
  • Aromanianvulpe
  • Corsicanvolpe
  • Corsicanvorpe

Quick answers

What does vulpēs mean in Latin?
vulpēs, a noun, means “a fox, vixen; smartness, strategy, quick thinking, adaptability, craftiness, cunning, cleverness, wisdom; a kind of shark”.
What is the genitive of vulpēs?
The genitive singular is vulpis. vulpēs is feminine, third declension.
How do you pronounce vulpēs?
In classical Latin, [ˈwʊɫ.peːs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈvul.pes].
Where does vulpēs come from?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂wl̥p-i-s → Proto-Italic *wolpis → Latin vulpēs.