modicus

Latin

Etymology

From modus (“(due) measure”) +‎ -icus.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈmo.di.kus/, [ˈmɔd̪ɪkʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈmo.di.kus/, [ˈmɔːd̪ikus]

Adjective

modicus (feminine modica, neuter modicum); first/second-declension adjective

1. moderate

   Synonym: moderātus

2. temperate, restrained
3. reasonable
4. humble, poor

   Synonyms: dēmissus, ignōbilis, humilis, abiectus

5. mean, scanty, small

   Synonyms: parcus, paucus, perpaucus

   Antonym: nimius

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number	Singular				Plural
Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	modicus	modica	modicum		modicī	modicae	modica
Genitive	modicī	modicae	modicī		modicōrum	modicārum	modicōrum
Dative	modicō		modicō		modicīs
Accusative	modicum	modicam	modicum		modicōs	modicās	modica
Ablative	modicō	modicā	modicō		modicīs
Vocative	modice	modica	modicum		modicī	modicae	modica

Descendants

• → Catalan: mòdic
• → English: modicum
• → French: modique
• → Italian: modico
• → Portuguese: módico
• → Romanian: modic
• → Spanish: módico

References

• “modicus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “modicus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• modicus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎^[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to bear a thing with resignation, composure: humane, modice, moderate, sapienter, constanter ferre aliquid
    
  • to be moderate in all things, commit no excess: omnia modice agere
    
  • with moderation and judgment: modice ac sapienter