English

Proper noun

Vesuvius

1. A volcanic mountain in Italy

Derived terms

• Vesuvian
• vesuvin

Translations

Latin

Alternative forms

• Vesēvus, Vesaevus (collateral forms)
• Vesvius, Vesbius (contracted collateral forms)

Etymology

Of uncertain origin; however, proposed derivations include:

• Latin vē- +‎ Ancient Greek σβέ(ννῡμι) ‎(sbé(nnūmi), “I am quenched”, “I go out”)
• Oscan 𐌚𐌄𐌔𐌚 ‎(fesf, “steam”, “smoke”)
• Proto-Celtic *ves ‎(“mountain”)

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /weˈsu.wi.us/, [wɛˈsʊ.wi.ʊs]

Proper noun

Vesuvius m ‎(genitive Vesuviī); second declension

1. Vesuvius (a celebrated volcano in Campania)

Declension

Second declension.

¹Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

Derived terms

• Vesuvīnus

Descendants

• English: Vesuvius
• Italian: Vesuvio
• Portuguese: Vesúvio
• Polish: Wezuwiusz
• Russian: Везу́вий ‎(Vezúvij)
  • Armenian: Վեզուվ ‎(Vezuv)

References

• Vĕsŭvĭus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “Vĕsŭvĭus”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette, page 1,668/1.