imbellis

Latin

Alternative forms

• inbellis

Etymology

From bellum +‎ in- -is.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /imˈbel.lis/, [ɪmˈbɛlːʲɪs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /imˈbel.lis/, [imˈbɛlːis]

Adjective

imbellis (neuter imbelle); third-declension two-termination adjective

1. unwarlike
   • 8 CE, Ovid, Fasti 5.371–374:

     ‘cūr tibi prō Libycīs clauduntur rēte leaenīs
     imbellēs capreae sollicitusque lepus?’
     nōn sibi, respondit, silvās cessisse, sed hortōs
     arvaque pugnācī nōn adeunda ferae.

     “Why, to [honor] you, instead of Libyan lionesses, are unwarlike roe deer (or female goats) and the timid hare being trapped in the net?” Forests were not granted to her, she replied, but the gardens and fields, [which are] not to be approached by aggressive beasts.
     (The poet asks Flora (mythology) why the Floralia featured certain animals.)

2. peaceful, pacifist

Declension

Third-declension two-termination adjective.

Number	Singular			Plural
Case / Gender	Masc./Fem.	Neuter		Masc./Fem.	Neuter
Nominative	imbellis	imbelle		imbellēs	imbellia
Genitive	imbellis			imbellium
Dative	imbellī			imbellibus
Accusative	imbellem	imbelle		imbellēs imbellīs	imbellia
Ablative	imbellī			imbellibus
Vocative	imbellis	imbelle		imbellēs	imbellia

Descendants

• Italian: imbelle
• Portuguese: imbele
• Spanish: imbele

References

• “imbellis”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “imbellis”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• imbellis in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• imbellis in Ramminger, Johann (2016 July 16 (last accessed)) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎^[1], pre-publication website, 2005-2016