typus

Typus is a Latin noun meaning type, model, figure, or impression. It derives from the Greek typos (τυπος), meaning an imprint or form, and has long influenced scholarly vocabulary as the root for terms describing standard examples or patterns. In contemporary English, the plain word type is used, but typus remains visible in historical texts and in some scientific terms.

In biology and taxonomy, typus historically referred to the specimen on which a species description was based. Modern practice emphasizes the type concept through terms such as type specimen, holotype, lectotype, neotype, and syntype. The designation of a type helps stabilize nomenclature and enable precise comparison across studies. Related concepts include type locality, the geographic origin of the type specimen, and type series, which describe the group of specimens linked to a name.

Beyond biology, typus informs typology, the systematic study of types and patterns across domains. In linguistics, typology classifies languages by structural features to identify cross-linguistic patterns. In archaeology, art history, and anthropology, typological methods group artifacts or features into types based on shared characteristics, aiding interpretation and chronology.

In summary, typus denotes an exemplary form or standard in Latin and historical scientific usage. Although modern usage often prefers type or typology, the term's legacy persists in the language of taxonomy and across disciplines that classify by types.