Victimae

Victimae is a Latin noun meaning “victims” or “sacrifices,” especially animal offerings in a ritual context. It is feminine and belongs to the first declension. The base form victima yields the form victimae in several cases, with different grammatical values depending on context: as nominative plural (the victims), as genitive singular (of the victim), or as dative singular (to the victim). The plural genitive is victimarum, so victimae is not the genitive plural. In practice, victimae can be read as nominative plural or as singular genitive or dative, depending on the sentence.

In classical Latin, victimae commonly referred to offerings in sacrifices and ritual practices. In Christian Latin, the phrase Victimae paschali laudes is a well-known liturgical title meaning “the praises of the Paschal victim,” illustrating a prominent religious usage of the form.

Etymology and related forms: victima derives from Latin victima, meaning “sacrifice, victim.” The term has given rise to references in historical and religious texts and remains visible primarily in liturgical titles and scholarly discussions of ancient rituals.

Modern usage: Victimae appears mainly in historical, linguistic, or liturgical contexts. It is not a term used in ordinary contemporary Latin prose outside scholarly or ceremonial contexts.

See also: victima; Victimae paschali laudes.