trux

Latin

Etymology

Of unclear origin.

De Vaan prefers to connect the word to Proto-Celtic *drukos (“bad”), assuming a sound change from Proto-Indo-European *dr- > Latin tr-. However, this assumes that the Celtic form derives from a Proto-Indo-European root starting with *dr- (instead of a different consonant cluster like *dʰr-), which is far from certain.

An alternative theory derives the word from Proto-Indo-European *truḱ-, a metathesis of *turḱ-, zero-grade of *twerḱ- (“to cut”). In this case, cognate with Ancient Greek σάρξ (sárx), Old Irish tru, troich (“fated to die”) and others in Sanskrit and Hittite.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /truks/, [t̪rʊks̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /truks/, [t̪ruks]

Adjective

trux (genitive trucis, comparative trucior, superlative trucissimus, adverb truciter); third-declension one-termination adjective

1. wild, rough, harsh, savage, fierce, ferocious

   Synonyms: ferōx, atrōx, violēns, immānis, efferus, ferus, crūdēlis, barbaricus, silvāticus, ācer, acerbus, sevērus

   Antonyms: mītis, tranquillus, misericors, placidus, quietus, clemens

2. grim, stern

Declension

Third-declension one-termination adjective

	singular			plural
	masc./fem.	neuter		masc./fem.	neuter
nominative	trux			trucēs	trucia
genitive	trucis			trucium
dative	trucī			trucibus
accusative	trucem	trux		trucēs	trucia
ablative	trucī truce			trucibus
vocative	trux			trucēs	trucia

Derived terms

• trucitās
• trucīdō
• truciter
• truculentus

Descendants

• → Italian: truce

References

• “trux”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “trux”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• trux in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Pokorny, Julius (1959) Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), volume 3, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 1102

Maltese

Root
t-r-x
4 terms

Etymology

From Arabic. The Maltese plural directly continues طُرْش (ṭurš), plural of أَطْرَش (ʔaṭraš). The singular might go back to an intensive/frequentative form *طَرُوش (*ṭarūš) or might be a backformation from truxija (“deafness”). There is also a possibility of Aramaic influence; compare Mandaic [script needed] (ṭrūš, ṭarūš, “deaf”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /truːʃ/

Adjective

trux (feminine singular truxa, plural torox, diminutive trajjax or trajjex)

1. deaf

   Synonym: turxan