poetae

Poetae is the Latin plural form of poeta, meaning poets. In Latin, poeta is a masculine noun of the first declension. The form poetae can function as the genitive singular (of the poet) or as the nominative plural (the poets), with the plural genitive being poetārum. Context within a sentence usually indicates which meaning is intended.

In classical Latin literature, poetae is used to designate poets as a class or to refer to groups of poets. The term appears in scholarly discussions and in quotations where Latin phrasing is preserved, such as references to the works of the Latin poets or to groups like the “poetae Romani.” As with many Latin terms, its exact meaning depends on grammatical case and number.

Modern reference works and scholarly writing typically preserve the Latin form poetae when discussing Latin poetry or when citing Latin passages. In English-language contexts, the word is usually understood as the plural of poeta, but it remains a Latin term rather than an English noun.

See also:

- Poeta, the singular Latin term for a poet

- Poetae Latini, a phrase sometimes used in studies of Latin poetry to denote Latin poets as a class

Poetae thus functions primarily as a linguistic form within Latin to refer to poets collectively or individually, rather than as a distinct category or organization in itself. Its usage is primarily of historical and philological interest, helping to anchor discussions of poetry in its original language.