Frequens

Frequens is a Latin adjective meaning frequent, common, or crowded. It is used to describe occurrences that happen often or places and groups that are well-attended. In classical Latin, frequens can modify nouns to convey repetition or abundance, as in phrases such as turba frequens (a frequent crowd) or templum frequens (a frequently visited temple).

Etymology and related forms are linked to the Latin root frequ-, associated with the idea of going to or attending in crowds. The noun frequentia, derived from the same root, means abundance or a crowd. Comparative and superlative forms include frequentior and frequentissimus, used to express “more frequent” and “most frequent.” The word also appears as a participial adjective in various Latin texts, reflecting ongoing or repeated action.

Usage in Latin texts is broad but context-specific: frequens commonly conveys repetition, regular attendance, or high turnout, rather than mere rarity. In dictionaries and grammars, it is listed among ordinary, non-technical adjectives, suitable for both literary and colloquial contexts in Latin prose.

In modern usage, frequens informs the etymology of English words such as frequent and frequency, through their Latin and, ultimately, shared Proto-Indo-European roots. While the Latin form is chiefly of historical and philological interest, its derivatives continue to appear in scholarly discussions of Latin phrasing, Roman social life, and the development of related Romance languages.