ortus

Ortus is a Latin noun meaning origin, source, birth, rise, or dawn. It is derived from the verb orior, “to rise,” and is a masculine noun of the fourth declension. In classical Latin, ortus denotes the beginning or origin of something, as well as the rising of celestial bodies. It commonly occurs in phrases such as ortus solis, meaning sunrise, and in other expressions referring to the origin or commencement of a matter. The sense is flexible and context-dependent, ranging from physical sunrise to abstract origins such as the origin of a city, a dynasty, or a project’s inception. In English translations, ortus is usually rendered as origin, rise, birth, ascent, or dawn, depending on context. In modern usage, ortus rarely appears outside of Latin quotations, scholarly works, or Latinized names and mottos; its primary value is as a term in the study of Latin language and literature.