Latin edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Found in Medieval Latin, of uncertain origin, though usually considered Germanic. A theoretical Proto-Germanic *blundaz (perhaps meaning “mixed, variegated”) could be derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- (to become turbid, go blind) or, as Watkins suggests, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (to shine).[1][2] However, as no such word is attested in any Germanic language (English blond, German blond, etc., all being borrowings from Old French), the Germanic theory mainly rests on the lack of another plausible derivation.

Also compare Sanskrit ब्रध्न (bradhna, yellowish), considered to be related.[3]

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

blondus (feminine blonda, neuter blondum); first/second-declension adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) blond.

Declension edit

First/second-declension adjective.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative blondus blonda blondum blondī blondae blonda
Genitive blondī blondae blondī blondōrum blondārum blondōrum
Dative blondō blondō blondīs
Accusative blondum blondam blondum blondōs blondās blonda
Ablative blondō blondā blondō blondīs
Vocative blonde blonda blondum blondī blondae blonda

Descendants edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “blond”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ blond”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, →ISBN.
  3. ^ van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “blond”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute