Verbum Hodiernum: FERUS

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FERUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is the adjective FERUS, meaning "wild," especially in the sense of a wild or untamed animal. The adjective can also apply to other things that are wild or untamed, anything that is savage or inhuman. The feminine form fera is commonly used to refer specifically to a wild animal.

This is a productive Latin root, and shows up in other Latin words such as ferox and ferocia. From this Latin root, we get the English words "fierce" and "ferocious." We also use the term "feral" to refer to untamed animals, such as feral cats or feral dogs.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae for this word:

Non leo tam ferus est quam picta leonis imago.

Nemo adeo ferus est, ut non mansuescere possit.

Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit.

Belua fera est avaritia.

Exuto homine in feram transit.

Invidia fera est domestica.

Fera feram novit.

Officia etiam ferae sentiunt.

Humana sub cute plurimae latent ferae.

Non est in silva peior fera quam mala lingua.

Fera quaevis in sua silva superbit.