Common Latin Words Starting with C

Cado

to fall, drop, plummet, topple

Caecus

blind, sightless

Caelestis

heavenly, celestial / noun, a god, dweller in heaven

Caelum

sky, heaven

Calamitas

calamity, misfortune, disaster

Calamus

anything made or reed — pen, arrow, pipe, etc

Calcar

spur

Calco

to tread, trample upon

Calculus

pebble, stone

Callide

skillfully, cleverly / cunningly, slyly, subtly

Callidus

clever, dextrous, experienced, skilful / cunning, sly

Cameracum

Cambrai

Campana

bell

Candidus

bright, shining, white

Canis

dog

Canonicus

canonical, according to the canons, legal, lawful, right

Canonus

canon, member of a cathedral chapter or canonry, Augustinian

Canto

to sing

Capillus

hair

Capio

to seize, take, choose / attack, injure / comprehend

Capitulus

chapter, chapter meeting, chapter house

Capto

to grab, try to get, grab at

Caput Capitis

head / top, summit / chief

Carbo Carbonis

carbon, coal, charcoal

Carcer

prison, cell, jail, dungeon

Careo

(+ abl of sep) be without, be deprived of, lack, want

Caries

rottenness, corruption, decay

Cariosus

rotten, decayed

Caritas

dearness, affection / charity

Carmen

song, poem

Carnotense

Chartres

Carnutum Carnotum

Chartres

Carpo

to pluck, seize, grab, lay hold of, hold on to

Carus

dear, beloved / costly, high-priced, expensive

Casso

to bring to naught, destroy, annul, make void

Caste

purely, spotlessly, purely, uprightly, chastely

Castellandum

Chateaudun

Casus

accident, chance, fortune

Catena

chain, fetters

Caterva

crowd, troop, flock

Catervatim

in troops, in masses

Cathalaunenses

Chalons

Cattus

cat

Cauda

the tail of an animal

Causa

(in the abl) on account of, for the sake of

Causa

cause / reason, motive, pretext / interest

Causa

case at law, case, law-suit / situation, condition

Caute Cautim

cautiously, with security

Cautela

caution, precaution, security

Caveo Cavi Cautum

beware, avoid, look out for

Cavus

hole, pit

Cedo

to go, proceed / turn out, happen / go away, withdraw

Cedo

(+ dat) give ground to, submit to, be inferior to

Cedo Cessi Cessum

to grant, yield

Celebrer

famous, renowned

Celebrus

abounding in, rich in, much frequented, respected

Celer

quick, swift, rapid, speedy, fast

Celeritas

speed, swiftness, rapidity, quickness

Celeriter

rapidly, quickly, swiftly, speedily

Celo

to hide, conceal, keep secret

Cena

dinner, meal

[ad#468x60-ad-unit-image]

Cenaculum

garret, attic

Ceno

to dine

Censura

judgement

Centum

(indecl) one hundred, 100

Cerno

to separate, sift, distinguish / decide, resolve, determine

Cernuus

falling headlong

Certe Certo

(adv) certainly, assuredly

Certo

to contend, settle, dispute, to settle by combat

Certus

undoubted, certain, sure

Certus

settled, resolved, decided / definite, certain, sure

Cervus

stag, deer

Cetera

for the rest, otherwise

Ceteri

the remaining, the rest, the others

Ceterum

(adv) otherwise, moreover, but

Ceterus

the other, the rest

Charisma Carisma

gift, present

Cibo

food for animals

Cibus

food for men and animals

Cicuta

hemlock

Cimentarius

mason?

Ciminatio

accusation, calumny, charge

Ciminosus

reproachful, slanderous

Cinis Cineris

ashes, embers

Circumvenio

to come around, surround, cheat, defraud

Circumvenio

to beset, assail

Cito

quickly, rapidly, speedily

Civilis

civil, civic

Civis

citizen, townsman, bourgeois, burgess

Civitas

state, citizenship, city-state

Clam

secretly, in secret

Clamo

to call, shout, cry aloud, proclaim, declare

Clamor

loud shouting, cry

Claro

to make bright or clear, make clear in the mind

Clarus

clear, bright / renowned, famous, illustrious

Claudeo

to limp, halt, be lame, to hobble

Claudo

to confine, shut up, close, blockade, besiege

Claudus

lame

Claustrum

bolt, bar, prison, den, pen, enclosure / cloister

Clementia

indulgence, forbearance, humanity, mercy, gentleness, etc

Clibanus

oven, furnace / tray for bread making

Coadunatio

a gathering together, a summing up, a uniting

Coaegresco

to become sick at the same time

Coepi (pres Incipio )

began, started, undertook, initiated

Coerceo

surround, enclose, restrain, confine

Cogito

to think, ruminate, ponder, consider, plan

Cognatus

(adj) related by blood (noun) a relative, kinsman

Cognomen

surname, family name, nick-name

Cognosco

to examine, inquire, learn

Cogo Coegi Coactum

to compel, restrict, confine

Cogo Coegi Coactum

to bring together, drive, draw

Cohaero Cohero Cohesi Cohesum

to adhere, stick together

Cohibeo

confine, restrain, hold back, repress

Cohors

a yard, enclosure / troop, 1 / 10 of a legion

Cohortor

to encourage, incite, exhort

Colligo

to gather together, collect, assemble

Colloco

to place, put, arrange

Collum

neck

Colo Colui Cultum

cultivate, cherish

Color

color

Coloratus

colored / dark-complexioned

Coloro

to color

Coma

hair of the head, leaves, rays of light

Combibo

to drink up, suck in

Comburo

to burn up, to ruin, consume

Comedo Comedi Comesum

to eat up, consume / waste, squander

Comes Comitis

companion, friend, comrade / count

Cometes

comet

Cometissa Comitissa

countess

Comis

courteous, kind, friendly

Comitatus

train, retinue, following / war band

Comiter

courteously, in a kindly, friendly manner

Comitto

to entrust, commit

Commemoro

to remind, relate, mention

Commeo

To go up and down, back and forth, in and out

Commessatio Onis

eating together

Comminor

to threaten

Comminuo

to scatter, weaken, damage

Comminus

hand to hand, in close combat

Commisceo

to intermingle, join, mix

Commissum

undertaking, that which is entrusted

Commodo

(+ acc) to furnish, lend, give

Commodo

to make fit, adapt, please, oblige, serve

Commodum

suitable time, opportunity, convenience, use

Commodum

convenience, advantage, opportunity, comfort

Commoneo

to remind someone forcibly of something

Commoneo

to remember, recollect

Commoneo

to impress upon one to remind

Commoveo

to move violently, disturb, shake / excite, upset

Communis

common, general, run of the mill

Comparo

to compare

Compatior

to suffer with one, feel pity, have compassion

Compello

to drive together, collect, force, compel

Comperio

to disclose wholly, lay open / learn, find out

Comperio

to disclose fully, find out with certainty

Comperte

on good authority

Compes

fetters, shackles, chains

Compes Compedis

fetters, shackles, chained

Competo

to be appropriate, suitable, fit

Complectus

embrace, grasp

Compleo

to finish

Compleo

to fill up, man, bring up to strength, fulfill

Compono

to put together, compose

Compositio

composition, agreement, pact / arrangement

Compositus

orderly, matching, made up of pieces

Comprehendo

to seize, arrest, take prisoner, catch red-handed

Comprehendo

to grasp, take together, unite / comprehend

Comprehendo

to embrace, take firmly, include, seize

Comprobo

to approve fully / to confirm, prove, establish

Comprovincialis

born in the same province

Comptus

a head-dress, a hairband

Conatus

exertion, effort / undertaking / impulse, inclination

Concedo

to concede, yield, allow, grant, withdraw, give up

Concepta

measures, capacity

Concero

connect join, twine, join in conflict

Concido

to fall down, sink, perish / (wind) subside

Concido

to be ruined, fail / cut up, cut down, destroy

Concilium

council

Concipio

to take or lay hold of, receive, take in

Concisus

cut up, broken, brief, concise

Concito

to move violently, stir up, excite

Conculco

to tread under foot, despise, oppress, suppress

Concupiscentia

avarice, covetousness

Concupisco

to covet, aim at, desire eagerly

Concutio

to shake, disturb, agitate

Concutio

to shake together, agitate, alarm, disturb, shatter

Condico

to agree, fix, settle, make arrangements

Conduco

hire, employ for wages, among many other meanings

Confero

to bring together, put together, collect /

Confero

discuss, debate, confer / betake oneself, devote

Confestim

immediately, without delay

Confido

have confidence in, be confident of, rely upon

Confiteor Confessus

to confess, own up, admit, acknowledge

Conforto

to strengthen much

Confugo

to flee, have recourse to, take refuge

Congregatio

assembly, society, union

Congrego

to gather together, assemble, convene

Congruus

agreeing, fit, suitable

Conicio

to hurl, throw / put together, conjecture

Coniecto

to throw together, infer, guess, conclude

Conitor

to press upon, to struggle to reach

Coniuratio

conspiracy, plot

Coniuratus

conspirator, plotter

Coniuro

to take an oath together, plot, conspire

Conor

to undertake, try, venture, presume, attempt

Conqueror

to complain loudly

Conscendo

to ascend, mount, go up

Conscientia

conscience, consciousness, knowledge

Conscindo

to tear in pieces

Conscius

conscious of, aware of

Conservo

to preserve, conserve, maintain, keep, hold to

Considero

to look at, regard carefully,

Consido

to set down, settle

Consilio

intentionally, on purpose, designedly

Consilium

deliberation, consultation, assembly, council

Consilium

advice, suggestion, wisdom, plan, purpose, judgment

Consisto

(+ in) to depend on, rely on

Consisto

(+ abl etc) to be formed of, consist / stop, stay

Consitor

sower, planter

Conspergo

to sprinkle, bestrew

Conspicio

to catch sight of, perceive, behold, understand

Constans

steady, firm, unchanging, constant, unwavering

Constanter

steadily, firmly

Constituo

to set up, place, establish, post, station

Constituo

to arrange, decide, appoint, settle, found, set up

Consto

to be established, stand firm, stop, endure

Constringo Constrixi Constrictum

to bind, confine, restrain

Construo Construxi Constructum

to construct, build, arrange

Constupator

ravisher, debaucher

Constupro

to ravish, corrupt

Consuasor

advisor, counselor

Consuefacio

to accustom, acclimate, become used to

Consuesco

to accustom, inure, habituate

Consueta

customary, usual

Consuetudo

custom, usage, habit / intimacy, familiar acquaintance

Consulatio

deliberation, inquiry, full consideration

Consulo

to reflect, consider, ponder, reflect

Consulo

(+ dat) look to the interests of / consult, ask advice

Consulo

to look to the interests of, come to a conclusion

Consulto

to ask the advice of, consult

Consulto

to consider carefully, weigh, ponder

Consultum

decree

Consummatio

completion, summing up, adding up

Consummo

to add together, sum up, make perfect, complete

Consumo

to spend, employ, use up, finish, waste away, destroy

Consuo Consui Consutum

to sew together, stitch

Consurgo

to stand up, rise up / to arise, break out

Contabesco

to waste slowly away, decline in health

Contactus

touching, contact / contagion

Contages

a touch, contact

Contagio Contagium

contagion, infection / touching, contact

Contamino

to pollute, infect

Contego

to cover, shield, protect, defend

Contemno

to think meanly of, despise, condemn, hate

Contemplatio

survey, contemplation

Contemplor

to mark out, regard, consider carefully, survey

Contemptim

contemptuously

Contemptio

scorn, disdain, contempt

Contemptus

despised, despicable, contemptible

Contendo

to compare, contrast / compete

Contendo

to contend, strive, struggle, hasten

Contendo

to assert, maintain / shoot (a missile), cast

Contente

eagerly, earnestly

Contentus

contented, satisfied

Contentus

strained, stretched / eager, zealous

Contigo

(with dat), to happen, befall

Contineo

to touch, reach, grasp, affect, infect

Contineo

to keep in, surround, contain, confine, include

Contineo

hold together, keep together, connect, join

Contineo

to hold back, restrain

Contineo Contigi Contectum

border on / befall (good luck)

Contingo

(contactum) to touch closely, happen to, befall

Continuo

(adv) immediately, at once

Continuus

connected together, continuous, uninterrupted

Contra

(+ acc) against

Contradictio

a speaking against, contradiction

Contrado

to deliver together, or wholly

Contraho

to draw together, collect, assemble, carry out

Contristo

to make sad or gloomy

Contristo

to sadden, afflict, damage (of crops)

Conturbo

to confuse, scatter, throw into confusion, distress

Conventus

coming together, assembly, union, congress

Conversatio

way, manner of life / monastic life

Converto

to turn around, cause to turn / to adopt the monastic life

Convoco

to call together, convene

Copia

abundance, supply

Copiae Copie

supplies, troops, forces

Copiose

fully, at length, copiously

Corbeiam

Corbie

Cornu

horn

Corona

crown, diadem

Corpus Corporis

body, corpse

Correptius

more shortly

Corrigo (correctum)

to make correct, make right

Corripio

to seize, snatch up, steal, (of a disease) attack

Corroboro

to strengthen

Corrumpo

to break up, destroy, annihilate / spoil, weaken

Corrumpo

(documents) to falsify / (character) to corrupt

Corruo

to fall to the ground, sink down / be ruined, destroyed

Corturiacum

Courtrai

Coruscus

(a) flashing, twinkling, shaking, trembling

Cotidie

daily, every day

Courtacum

Courtrai

Crapula

wine-drinking, intoxication, drunkenness

Cras

(adv) tomorrow, on the morrow

Crastinus

of the morrow, the morrow

Creator

creator, founder

Creatura

creature, servant

Creber

thick, frequent, numerous

Crebro

repeatedly, often, one after the other, time after time

Credo

to believe / trust, commit / trust in, rely on / think

Creo

to create, make

Creptio

taking by force, seizure

Crepusculum

dusk, twilight

Cresco (cretum)

to grow, increase, expand

Cribro

to sift

Cribrum

sieve

Crinis

hair

Crinitus

long haired

Cruciamentum

torture, torment

Crucio

to torture, torment

Crudelis

cruel

Cruentus

to make bloody, stain with blood

Cruentus

bloody, bloodthirsty, blood-red

Crur Cruris

leg, shank, shin, also foot

Crustulum

pastry, cookie

Crux Crucis

cross

Cubicularis

pertaining to a bedroom

Cubicularius

bed-chamber servant, chamberlain

Cubiculum

bedroom, sleeping chamber

Cubitum

the elbow / a cubit

Cubitum Ire

to go to bed, retire

Cubo

to lie down, recline

Cui

(masc sing dat) TO WHOM did you give it?

Cui

(fem sing dat) IN WHICH (province) did you live?

Cui

(neut sing dat) (the monster), TO WHOM the cattle belonged

Cuius

(neut sing gen) (the building) the size OF WHICH was great

Cuius

(masc sing gen) (the saint) WHOSE virtues were many

Cuius

(fem sing gen) (the queen), the vices OF WHOM were many

Cuiusmodi

of what kind

Culpa

fault, blame, (esp against chastity)

Culpo

to blame, censure, accuse

Cultellus

a little knife

Cultura

cultivation

Cum

(prep + abl) with

Cum

(with indicative) when

Cum

(with subjunctive) when, as, while, since, although

Cunabula

cradle

Cunae

nest for young birds

Cunctatio

delay

Cunctator

delayer, procrastinator,

Cunctor

to delay, impede, hold up

Cunctus

all, all collectively, the whole

Cupiditas

ambition, avarice, party spirit, eager desire

Cupido

passion, desire, wanting, yearning, longing

Cupio

to desire, wish, long for, desire

Cuppedia

delicacies, candies, sweetmeats

Cupressus

cypress, cypress wood, a cypress-wood casket

Cur

why, wherefore

Cura

management, administration, care, concern, charge

Curatio

attention / medical attention, healing, curing

Curator

guardian, overseer

Curia

court

Curiositas

curiosity, inquisitiveness, nosiness

Curiosus

careful, attentive / curious, inquisitive / worn out by cares

Curis Quris

a spear

Curo

to care for, trouble about, pay attention to

Curo

manage, administer / provide money

Curo

(+gerundive) to see to a thing being done / cure, rest

Curriculum

a running, race, lap around the track, course

Currus

cart / a plow with wheels

Cursim

hastily, quickly, rapidly

Cursito

to run up and down

Curso

to run back and forth

Cursor

runner, carrier, messenger

Cursus

a race, a running, race course, race track, course

Curto

to shorten, abbreviate

Curtracus

Courtrai

Curtus

shortened / mutilated, defective / gelded

Curvo

to bend, arch, curve / influence

Curvus

arched, bent, bowed, curved, crooked, wrong (morally crooked)

Custodia

protection, custody

Custodiae Custodie

guards, wardens

Custos

guardian, keeper, watchman, attendant, guard / spy