bastardus

Bastardus is a Latin adjective and noun meaning “bastard” or “illegitimate.” In medieval and early modern Latin, it described a person born outside lawful marriage or something of illicit or uncertain origin. It could function adjectivally (bastardus filius) or as a substantive noun (the bastard). The term is the linguistic ancestor of the English word bastard.

Etymology and forms: The form bastardus is derived from Old French bastard, likely via late Latin bastardus. The feminine and neuter forms are bastarda and bastardum, used to agree with feminine and neuter nouns. In Latin texts, the word appears in legal, genealogical, and narrative contexts to mark illegitimacy or questionable pedigree.

Historical usage: In medieval Europe, bastardus marked illegitimacy and could influence inheritance rights, social status, and succession. It occurs in chronicles, charters, and literary prose as a descriptor or label. The concept was often treated with caution or pejorative nuance, depending on local customs and legal frameworks.

Modern usage: In contemporary scholarship, bastardus is encountered mainly as a linguistic and philological term within studies of Latin, medieval law, and prosopography. It is largely archaic in everyday Latin usage and is typically translated as “bastard” or “illegitimate” in modern languages. The term helps trace the historical development of the concept and its social implications in ancient and medieval contexts.