classicus

Classicus is a Latin adjective and, occasionally, a noun used to express belonging to a class, rank, or division, and more broadly to indicate something that is classical or first-rate. In Latin itself, it could describe quality, tradition, or association with the ancient world, depending on context. In later Latin, the sense often aligns with “classical” in English, referring to the tradition of ancient Greek and Roman literature, art, and institutions.

Etymology and forms: Classicus derives from classis, meaning a class or division (and also a fleet, in military terms). As a 2nd-declension adjective, it appears in the standard forms: masculine classicus, feminine classica, neuter classicum, with the plural classici, classicae, classica. When used as a noun, it can denote a member of the class or, in some contexts, a person associated with the classical tradition.

Usage and context: In classical Latin texts, classicus may describe people, works, or styles deemed first-rate or representative of a traditional class. It can denote antiquity or alignment with established norms, rather than modern novelty. In medieval and humanist Latin, the term often carries the sense of “pertaining to the classical world.” In modern scholarship, classicus appears chiefly in discussions of Latin literature, language, or style, or as a Latinized descriptor in pseudo-Lrench or historical writing.

See also: Classic, Classical Latin, Classis. For reference, lexicographers such as Lewis and Short provide the standard Latin definitions and attested usages of classicus and related forms.