sexus

Sexus is a Latin noun meaning “sex” or “gender,” used in classical and late Latin to denote the biological distinction between male and female as well as related characteristics or roles. In broader passages, it can also refer to a state or condition. In medical and natural history writings, sexus appears when differentiating organisms by sex or describing sexual anatomy, though Latin authors often used more specific phrases for particular contexts.

Etymology and cognates: The term is the immediate source of the English word sex, which entered through Old French sexe from Latin sexus. Descendants of the same root appear in Romance languages, including French sexe, Italian sesso, Spanish sexo, Portuguese sexo, and Romanian sex.

Usage and context: In Latin, sexus is encountered in scholarly, legal, and literary contexts where distinctions of sex or gender are discussed. In modern scholarly work, the word appears primarily in historical, philological, or linguistic discussions. Contemporary discussions of sex and gender in Latin texts typically employ more explicit phrases or seek to translate the sense with modern vocabulary.

See also: Sex, Gender, Latin language, Romance languages, Etymology.

Note: The article focuses on the Latin term and its linguistic impact; it does not address contemporary social debates outside of historical or philological study.