Gregis

Gregis is the genitive singular form of the Classical Latin noun grex, meaning a flock, herd, or crowd. In Latin syntax, gregis is used to express possession or association, so phrases like “dux gregis” can be understood as “leader of the flock.” The form appears in classical and medieval Latin texts, often in descriptions of animals, groups, or social assemblies.

Origin and form: Grex is a third-declension noun, with its genitive singular gregis. The root greg- conveys gathering or clustering, a semantic field that has produced numerous Latin words and many English derivatives. This root underlies a family of terms related to groups, assemblies, and collective action.

Usage and scope: In Latin literature and inscriptions, gregis functions as the genitive to denote what belongs to a group or how a group is described. In scholarly works and glossaries, gregis is cited as the standard genitive singular form of grex. Outside Latin-language contexts, the word gregis is rarely used directly, but the same root informs many English terms tied to gathering or grouping.

Related terms: The root greg- appears in several Latin and English words, such as congregare, congregation, aggregate, and gregarious, all conveying ideas of gathering or social living. These cognates reflect the broad semantic field associated with flocks, crowds, and collective action that originates from grex and its genitive gregis.