dignus

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Italic *deknos, from Proto-Indo-European *dḱ-nós, from *deḱ- (“to take”). Cognate to Latin decus and decet, discō, doceō, Ancient Greek δέχομαι (dékhomai).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈdiɡ.nus/, [ˈd̪ɪŋnʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈdiɲ.ɲus/, [ˈd̪iɲːus]

Adjective

dignus (feminine digna, neuter dignum, comparative dignior, superlative dignissimus); first/second-declension adjective

1. appropriate, fitting, worthy, meet, deserving, fit, proper, suitable, becoming

   Synonyms: aptus, habilis, opportūnus, iūstus, lēgitimus, idōneus

   • 8 CE, Ovid, Fasti 4.270:

     dignus Rōma locus, quō deus omnis eat.

     Rome: a worthy place whereto every god can go.

   • Vere dignum et justum est... - "It is truly right and just..." (from the Preface of the Roman Liturgy)
2. (with ablative) worthy of

   Antonym: indignus

   memoria dignus ― memorable

   dignum est ― It is convenient

   • c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII.25:

     Accidit [...] quod dignum memoria visum

     happened [...] a circumstance worthy of record

References

• “dignus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• dignus in Enrico Olivetti, editor (2003-2024), Dizionario Latino, Olivetti Media Communication
• “dignus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• dignus in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• dignus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.