hostis, hostis, m. – enemy
According to Lewis & Short’s Latin Dictionary hostis is the 129th most frequent word and the general definition is a stranger, a foreigner, or enemy. The word was often used in legal matters, it can also mean an “individual citizen regarded as, or declared officially to be, an enemy of the state” (Glare). Similarly, it was used in military circumstances for “one engaged in hostile (military) activities against a country” (Glare). Hostis can also be referring to beasts of prey, which I found particularly interesting. The third king of Rome Hostilius ruled from 672-614 BCE and it is believed that his name was derived from the word hostis. This bolstered his depiction as a martial leader. His rule was centered around the conflict with Alba Longa, “the destruction of Alba itself and the incorporation of its citizens in the Roman state” (Drummond). In Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, they discussed how the word hostis is connected to the word ghost in its meaning as stranger or guest. It is interesting, yet logical, that the word for enemy has such a prominent and robust set of meanings in such a military based society. In quotation 1, the duality of hostis meaning both stranger and enemy can be seen. In quotation 2, hostis is used to refer to an enemy’s piece in a game of latrunculi. Overall, it was very interesting to learn more about this word that was essential to Roman society.
Quotation 1:
equidem etiam illud animadverto, quod qui proprio nomine perduellis esset, is hostis vocaretur, lenitate verbi rei tristitiam mitigatam. Hostis enim apud majores nostros is dicebatur, quem nunc peregrinum dicimus … quamquam id nomen durius effecit jam vetustas: a peregrino enim recessit et proprie in eo qui arma contra ferret remansit, Cic. Off. 1, 12, 37 (M Tullius Cicero, De Officiis, Book I: Moral Goodness, section 37)
Quotation 2:
Cautaque non stulte latronum proelia ludat,
Unus cum gemino calculus hoste perit
Bellatorque sua prensus sine compare bellat,
Aemulus et coeptum saepe recurrit iter.
Ov. A. A. 3, 357-360 (P Ouidius Naso, Ars Amatoria)
Resources:
Drummond, Andrew. “Hostilius, Tullus, king.” Oxford Classical Dictionary. December 22, 2015. Oxford University Press. Date of access 3 Dec. 2019, <https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3165>
Glare, P. G. W., and Stray, Christopher. Oxford Latin dictionary . 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
Vaan, Michiel Arnoud Cor de. Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages. Leiden ;: Brill, 2008. Print.