Latin edit

Etymology edit

Literally "golden key".

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

clāvis aurea f (genitive clāvis aureae); third declension

  1. (idiomatic) used to indicate the means by which texts may be interpreted.

Usage notes edit

  • The expression is found in theological texts of the sixteenth century, such as Clavis Scripturae Sacrae o Clavis aurea by Matthias Flacius, and in alchemical works such as Clavis Aurea Portae.

Declension edit

Third-declension noun (i-stem) with a first-declension adjective.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative clāvis aurea clāvēs aureae
Genitive clāvis aureae clāvium aureārum
Dative clāvī aureae clāvibus aureīs
Accusative clāvem auream clāvēs aureās
clāvīs aureās
Ablative clāve aureā clāvibus aureīs
Vocative clāvis aurea clāvēs aureae