Q u o c o l o r e e s t ?

1. Quocoloreest? Whatcolorisit? A study in Latin and English

2. ruber, rubra, rubrum Rubra is the Latin word for red. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, ruber describes a word which is masculine, rubra describes a word that is feminine, and rubrum describes a word that is neuter. • Italia est rubra. • Gallus (rooster) est ruber. • Malum est rubrum. • What English word(s) are derived from ruber? • ruby malum

3. purpurpeus, purpurea, purpureum Purpureus is the Latin word for purple. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, purpureusdescribes a word which is masculine, purpurea describes a word that is feminine, and purpurpeum describes a word that is neuter. • Roma est purpurea. • Uvae sunt (are) purpureae. • What English word(s) are derived from purpureus? • purple uvae

4. fuscus, fusca, fuscum Fuscus is the Latin word for brown. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, fuscusdescribes a word which is masculine, fusca describes a word that is feminine, and fuscum describes a word that is neuter. • Africa est fusca. • Canis est fuscus. • Terra (land) est fusca. • What English word(s) are derived from fuscus? • fuscous (any of several colors averaging a brownish-gray) canis

5. caeruleus, caerulea, caeruleum Caeruleus is the Latin word for deep blue. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, caeruleusdescribes a word which is masculine, caerulea describes a word that is feminine, and caeruleum describes a word that is neuter. • Mare est caeruleum. • Camera (room) est caerulea. • Caelum est caeruleum. • What English word(s) are derived from caeruleus? • cerulean mare et caelum

6. puniceus, punicea, puniceum Puniceus is the Latin word for pink. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, puniceusdescribes a word which is masculine, punicea describes a word that is feminine, and puniceum describes a word that is neuter. • Sardinia est punicea. • Stola(woman’s dress)est punicea. • Aliqui (some) pisces sunt punicei. • For the Romans puniceus was a purplish red. pisces

7. viridis, viridis, viride Viridis is the Latin word for green. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, viridisdescribes a word which is masculine, viridis describes a word that is feminine, and viride describes a word that is neuter. • Carthego est viridis. • Rana (frog) est viridis. • Herba est viridis. • What English word(s) are derived from viridis? • Viridity (the quality or state of being green) herba

8. flavus, flava, flavum Flavus is the Latin word for golden. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, flavusdescribes a word which is masculine, flava describes a word that is feminine, and flavum describes a word that is neuter. • Corsica est flava. • Sol est flavus. • Templum est flavum. • What English word(s) are derived from flavus? • riboflavin (a yellow crystalline compound) sol

9. ater, atra, atrum Ater is the Latin word for black. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, ater describes a word which is masculine, atra describes a word that is feminine, and atrum describes a word that is neuter. • Tiberus est ater. • Feles (cat) est atra. • Via est atra. • What English word(s) are derived from ater? • atrabilious (gloomy) via

10. aurantiacus, aurantiaca, aurantiacum Aurantiacus is the Latin word for orange. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, aurantiacus describes a word which is masculine, aurantiaca describes a word that is feminine, and aurantiacum describes a word that is neuter. • Noricum est aurantiacum • Piscis est aurantiacus. • Flores (flowers) sunt aurantiaci. • In Latin aureus is the word for the metal gold. • It is this Latin word which gave us the abbreviation Au on the periodic chart; the abbreviation for gold. piscis

11. fumeus, fumea, fumeum Fumeus is the Latin word for gray. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, fumeus describes a word which is masculine, fumeadescribes a word that is feminine, and fumeum describes a word that is neuter. • Alpes Montes sunt fumei. • Equus est fumeus. • Columnae sunt fumeae. • In Latin fumeus is the word for the smoking. columnae

12. citreus, citrea, citreum Citreus is the Latin word for yellow. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, citreus describes a word which is masculine, citrea describes a word that is feminine, and citreum describes a word that is neuter. • Aetna Mons est citrea. • Pullus est citreus. • Flores (flowers)sunt citreus. • What English word is derived from citreus? • citruspullus

13. lacteus, lactea, lacteum Lacteus is the Latin word for milky white. • In Latin the adjectives (the words that describe) change endings to agree with the words they are describing. That’s why there are three forms. One is for masculine, one is for feminine, and one is for neuter words. • Therefore, lacteus describes a word which is masculine, lactea describes a word that is feminine, and lacteum describes a word that is neuter. • Sicilia est lactea. • Columbae sunt lacteae. • Flores (flowers) sunt lactei. • What English word is derived from lacteus? • lactose • lactaid • lactate columbae

14. Quocoloreest? • ruber, rubra, rubrum • purpureus, purpurea, purpureum • fuscus, fusca, fuscum • caeruleus, caerulea, caeruleum • puniceus, punicea, puniceum • viridis, viridis, viride • flavus, flava, flavum • ater, atra, atrum • aurantiacus, aurantiaca, aurantiacum • fumeus, fumea, fumeum • citreus, citrea, citreum • lacteus, lactea, lacteum