copiosus

Copiosus is a Latin adjective meaning abundant, copious, or plentiful. It is derived from copiae, the Latin noun for abundance, with the suffix -osus forming an adjective. The masculine form is copiosus, the feminine copiosa, and the neuter copiosum. In classical Latin, copiosus could describe generous resources, wealth, or provisions.

In taxonomy and scholarly Latin, copiosus may appear as a descriptive epithet within binomials to indicate abundance of a trait or habitat. It functions as a descriptive modifier rather than a separate taxonomic name. Its use reflects a long-standing tradition of Latinizing descriptive terms in scientific nomenclature.

English speakers generally encounter the related adjective copious, which derives from the same Latin root. Copiously and copiousness follow from this origin, and the word is commonly used in modern English to denote large quantities or abundant detail. The Latin form copiosus, however, is primarily seen in historical or scholarly contexts rather than everyday English.

The concept behind copiosus is mirrored in the classical personification Copia, the goddess of abundance in Roman mythology, who is often depicted with symbols of plenty such as a cornucopia. The linguistic lineage from copiae to copiosus and to the English copious underscores the enduring association between the term and notions of plenty.

Cognates appear in several Romance languages, including Italian copioso, French copieux, and Spanish copioso, reflecting the shared Latin heritage of the word.