Significatio vocis Diovis | Babel Free

Definitiones

the Old Italic name for Jove, Jupiter

Old-Latin, declension-3, masculine

Aequivalentia

Exempla

“In antiquis precationibus nomina hæc deorum inesse animadvertimus: Diovis et Vediovis; est autem etiam ædes Vediovis Romæ inter Arcem et Capitolium. Eorum nominum rationem esse hanc comperi: Iovem Latini veteres a iuvando appellavere, eundemque alio vocabulo iuncto patrem dixerunt. Nam quod est, elisis aut inmutatis quibusdam litteris, Iupiter, id plenum atque integrum est Iovispater. Sic et Neptunuspater coniuncte dictus est et Saturnuspater et Ianuspater et Marspater—hoc enim est Marspiter—itemque Iovis Diespiter appellatus, id est diei et lucis pater. Idcircoque simili nomine Iovis Diovis dictus est et Lucetius, quod nos die et luce quasi vita ipsa afficeret et iuvaret. Lucetium autem Iovem Cn. Nævius in libris Belli Pœnici appellat.”

In ancient prayers we have observed the names of these gods: Diovis and Vediovis; furthermore, there is a temple of Vediovis at Rome, between the Citadel and Capitolium. The explanation of these names I have ascertained: the ancient Latins called Iovis from iuvare, and called the same god “father,” thus adding another word. For Iovispater is the full complete form, which becomes Iupiter by syncope or change of some letters. So also Neptunuspater is used as a compound, and Saturnuspater and Ianuspater and Marspater—for this is Marspiter—and Jove also was called Diespiter, that is, the father of day and of light. And thus by a name of similar origin Jove is called Diovis and also Lucetius, because he blesses and helps us by means of the day and the light, equal to life itself. And Lucetius is applied to Jove by Gn. Nævius in his poem on the Punic War.

Gradus CEFR