fidatus

Fidatus is a Latin adjective and participial form meaning faithful, trusted, or entrusted. It is derived from the verb fido, fidere, fisus, which means to trust. The sense centers on someone or something that has been placed under another’s trust or has shown steadfast fidelity.

In Classical Latin usage, fidatus commonly describes a person or object that has been entrusted with a duty, responsibility, or role. It can appear in legal, military, or ceremonial contexts to emphasize reliability, loyalty, or entrusted tasks. The term is distinct from fidelis, which more broadly conveys faithfulness or loyalty as a general trait, whereas fidatus emphasizes the state of being entrusted or committed to a trust.

Grammatical notes: fidatus is used as an adjective or participle and agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. The common forms are fidatus (masculine), fidata (feminine), and fidatum (neuter) in the nominative singular, with standard declension into the other cases. As a participial adjective, it can modify persons, offices, or objects described as entrusted or reliable.

Modern usage and context: Fidatus is primarily encountered in scholarly Latin texts, linguistic discussions, or inscriptions. It is not a common everyday term in Latin prose, where fidelis or fides are more frequent for expressing trust and fidelity. Related terms include fiducia (trust, confidence) and fides (faith, trust, loyalty).

See also: fidelis, fides, fiducia, fido.