Melpis

Latin

Alternative forms

Melfis

Etymology

Similar to the placenames Melpes (see Melfi) and Melpum. According to De Giovanni, all are from a Mediterranean (possibly Italic, like the Oenotrians) substrate *melf, *melp, of uncertain meaning, possibly meaning "mud."

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈmel.pis/, [ˈmɛɫ̪pɪs̠]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈmel.pis/, [ˈmɛlpis]

Proper noun

Melpis m sg (genitive Melpis); third declension

A small river of Latium falling into the Liris, now Melfa

Declension

Third-declension noun (i-stem), singular only.

	singular
nominative	Melpis
genitive	Melpis
dative	Melpī
accusative	Melpem
ablative	Melpe
vocative	Melpis

Descendants

Italian: Melfa

References

“Melpis”, in William Smith, editor (1854, 1857), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly
Giacinto de' Sivo, Storia delle Due Sicilie, dal 1847 al 1861, Oxford University Press, 1864.
Alessio-De Giovanni: Alessio, G., De Giovanni, M., Apulia et Calabria nel quadro della toponomastica mediterranea, Atti del VII congresso internazionale di scienze onomastiche, vol. 1, Firenze 1962, pp. 65-129.