Features of dictionary forms and abbreviations
The medical dictionary always presents a term in its full dictionary form. For nouns, the nominative case, the genitive case ending, and the gender are indicated. The following standard abbreviations are used in the texts:
- m (masculinum) — masculine gender;
- f (femininum) — feminine gender;
- n (neutrum) — neuter gender.
For adjectives, gender endings are indicated. For example, the combination a, um shows the feminine and neuter endings for first-second declension adjectives. The ending e indicates the neuter form for third declension adjectives.
Clinical and anatomical terminology (Letter A)
The dictionary includes an extensive layer of terms describing pathological conditions and elements of the human body structure.
Among frequent clinical concepts are:
- Abort — abortus, us m
- Abscess — abscessus, us m
- Aneurysm — aneurysma, ătis n
- Anemia — anaemia, ae f
- Arrhythmia — arrhythmia, ae f
- Asthma — asthma, ătis n
- Atrophy — atrophia, ae f
- Aphthae — aphthae, ārum f (used in the plural — pluralis)
Anatomical structures are represented by such terms as aorta (aorta, ae f), apertura (apertūra, ae f), appendix (appendix, ĭcis f), atlas (atlas, antis m) and alveolus (alveolus, i m). The dictionary also includes important adjectives: obstetric (obstetricius, a, um), allergic (allergicus, a, um) and anatomical (anatomicus, a, um).
General medical and anatomical vocabulary (Letter B)
Letter B accounts for numerous basic concepts used in daily clinical practice. The most important general terms are disease (morbus, i m), pain (dolor, ōris m), patient (aegrōtus, a, um or aeger, gra, grum), as well as pregnancy (gravidĭtas, ātis f) and rabies (rabies, ēi f).
The anatomical section contains the names of major structures and bones:
- Basis, base — basis, is f
- Thigh — femur, ŏris n (the femur bone is designated as os femŏris)
- Tibia — tibia, ae f
- Cerebrum (forebrain) — cerĕbrum, i n
- Bronchus — bronchus, i m
- Peritoneum — peritonēum, i n
- Mesentery — mesenterium, i n
Special attention is paid to the names of the digits: thumb is translated as pollex, ĭcis m, and great toe (I) as hallus, ūcis m. Among adjectives, the word "great" stands out. In the positive degree, it is translated as magnus, a, um, and in the comparative degree, as major, jus.
Pharmaceuticals and botany
A significant part of the dictionary is occupied by the names of medications and plants.
Botanical nomenclature includes:
- Aloe — aloë, ës f
- Marshmallow — althaea, ae f
- Anise — anisum, i n
- Belladonna (deadly nightshade) — belladonna, ae f
- Hawthorn — crataegus, i f (is an exception, as it is feminine despite the -us ending).
Chemical drug names in the overwhelming majority of cases belong to the neuter gender and end in -um: adrenaline (adrenalinum, i n), ampicillin (ampicillinum, i n), analgin (analginum, i n), atropine (atropinum, i n), butadion (butadiōnum, i n) and benzylpenicillin (benzylpenicillīnum, i n). Also, prescription terminology frequently includes words such as ampoule (ampulla, ae f), aerosol (aërosolum, i n), balsam (balsămum, i n) and paper (charta, ae f).
Briefly: answers to topical questions
What other tree and shrub names ending in -us are feminine exceptions in Latin?
The provided materials mention only one shrub name ending in -us that is an exception and belongs to the feminine gender in Latin.
- Hawthorn (crataegus, i f) is an exception: feminine gender.
Information regarding any other tree and shrub names that are exceptions is not provided in these sources.
What are the degrees of comparison for the Latin adjective magnus (large)?
For the Latin adjective magnus (large), the comparative and superlative degrees are formed from modified roots (suppletive forms).
| Positive degree | Comparative degree | Superlative degree |
|---|---|---|
| magnus, a, um (large) | major, jus (greater) | maximus, a, um (largest) |
In dimensional terms of normal anatomy, the superlative degree maximus can also be translated as "largest".
To avoid mistakes with the gender of the plant "hawthorn" (crataegus), remember that it is an exception: it has the typically "masculine" ending -us, but belongs to the feminine gender (f).
Class and exam questions
How is the word "large" translated in anatomical terms?
The positive degree uses the form magnus, a, um. If the comparative degree is required, the word major, jus is used.
What endings do most Latin drug names have?
The absolute majority of drugs (e.g., ampicillinum, atropinum, barbitalum) end in -um and belong to the neuter gender (n).
How to correctly write the Latin name of hawthorn indicating its gender?
The dictionary form of this plant is crataegus, i f. This word is an exception and belongs to the feminine gender.
What else to study on this topic
- Endings of third-declension adjectives (-is, -e)
- Clinical diagnoses and pathological conditions in Latin
- Botanical nomenclature: plant names and their parts
- Degrees of comparison of adjectives in anatomical terminology
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