pueris

pueris is the dative and ablative plural form of the Latin noun puer, meaning “child.” As a case ending, it is used to indicate who receives an action (dative) or the means by which an action is performed (ablative). The word puer itself derives from Proto‑Indo‑European *pŏ̄rús, a term shared with Greek paíos (παιός) and Old English cild.

In Classical Latin literature, pueris appears frequently in idiomatic expressions such as pueris titulus (“the title held by children”) or in legal contexts wherein the status of minor witnesses or parties is described. For instance, Cicero in the oration de Legibus cites “pueris rivalibus carceribus” to illustrate the harsh treatment of adolescent offenders. Julius Caesar’s commentaries use pueris to denote the “children of the Legions” in the phrase pueris exercitus, indicating the young soldiers who served in support roles.

The term also appears in post‑Classical Latin, especially in moral treatises and ecclesiastical canon law. It is often paired with derived adjectives like puerilis (“childish”) or with nouns such as puerilis merit (“merit of children”), emphasizing the ethical responsibilities toward youth.

In modern linguistic studies, pueris remains a standard example of Latin case usage, cited often in textbooks on Latin grammar. The term has entered English legal and philosophical discourse in phrases such as “sons and daughters, that is, human pueris, are deededs by their parents.”

See also: puer, puerulus, puerile, logical referencing in Latin.