Sextus Pompeius Festus, De verborum significatu [The Lexicon of Festus]

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Introduction

Sextus Pompeius Festus is the author of a Latin lexicon of the Roman imperial period, known as De Verborum Significationibus (On the Meaning of Words: Macrobius, Sat. 3.8.9), and based on an earlier work by Verrius Flaccus (55 BCE-CE 20), tutor to Augustus’ grandsons. Its etymologies and grammatical explanations of unusual or archaic words are richly detailed, and it contains often unique information on the history and legends, language and literature, political, social and religious institutions, laws, monuments and topographical traditions of ancient Rome and Italy. The text draws on late Republican antiquarian writers, and preserves numerous fragments of early Latin authors, above all Ennius, Plautus and Cato the Elder.

Sextus Pompeius Festus is the author of a Latin…

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Citation: Glinister, Fay. "De verborum significatu". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 December 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=33494, accessed 13 December 2024.]

33494 De verborum significatu 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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