Lupercus

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin Lupercus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /luːˈpɜː(ɹ)kəs/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)kəs

Proper noun

Lupercus

1. (Roman mythology) A god who protected flocks, in some sources identified with Faunus in the aspect of Innus, and by extension as the equivalent of the Greek Πὰν Λυκαῖος (Pàn Lukaîos, “Lycaean Pan”).

Related terms

• Lupercal
• Lupercalia

Latin

Etymology

Perhaps a compound of lupus (“wolf”) +‎ arceō (“I ward off”), so named because of the god’s role as protector of flocks from wolves.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /luˈper.kus/, [ɫ̪ʊˈpɛrkʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /luˈper.kus/, [luˈpɛrkus]

Proper noun

Lupercus m sg (genitive Lupercī); second declension

1. Lupercus

Declension

Second-declension noun, singular only.

	singular
nominative	Lupercus
genitive	Lupercī
dative	Lupercō
accusative	Lupercum
ablative	Lupercō
vocative	Luperce

Derived terms

• Luperca
• Lupercāl
• Lupercālis
  • Lupercālia

Descendants

• Russian: Лу́перк (Lúperk)

Noun

Lupercus m (genitive Lupercī); second declension

1. a priest of the god Lupercus

Declension

Second-declension noun.

	singular	plural
nominative	Lupercus	Lupercī
genitive	Lupercī	Lupercōrum
dative	Lupercō	Lupercīs
accusative	Lupercum	Lupercōs
ablative	Lupercō	Lupercīs
vocative	Luperce	Lupercī

References

• “Lŭpercus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “Lupercus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers