crassus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / Archaic / HistoricalFormal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “crassus” mean?
Thick, dense, or fat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Thick, dense, or fat; originally a Latin adjective denoting physical substance.
In historical contexts, used in Latin phrases or as a proper name (e.g., Marcus Licinius Crassus). In Modern English, it is archaic and not used as a standard lexical item except in direct reference to Latin or Roman history.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in usage, as the word is not part of active English vocabulary in either variety.
Connotations
Solely historical/academic. May evoke the Roman Republic, the First Triumvirate, or the Battle of Carrhae.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in general corpora. May appear in specialized historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “crassus” in a Sentence
Used attributively in Latin phrases (e.g., 'Crassus Dives')As a proper noun subject/object (e.g., 'Crassus amassed wealth')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crassus” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Latin term 'crassus humor' referred to a thick bodily fluid.
American English
- In botanical Latin, 'crassus' describes a thick stem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in history, classics, and political science to refer to the historical figure Marcus Licinius Crassus.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in philological or historical linguistic discussions of Latin.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crassus”
- Using 'Crassus' as an English adjective meaning 'crass'.
- Misspelling as 'Crassous' or 'Crassas'.
- Mispronouncing with a hard /s/ at the end instead of /sʊs/ or /səs/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a Latin word. It enters English only as a proper noun (a name) or in direct reference to Latin language.
It is a Latin adjective meaning 'thick', 'dense', 'solid', or 'fat'.
Both derive from the Latin 'crassus'. 'Crass' evolved to mean 'coarse' or 'stupid' (i.e., mentally 'thick'), while 'Crassus' remains a proper name.
No. It is not part of active English vocabulary. It is only relevant for those studying Roman history or Latin.
Thick, dense, or fat.
Crassus is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Crassus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrasʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkræsəs/ or /ˈkrɑːsəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CRASS US'ury made Crassus rich.' (He was famously wealthy).
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS BULK (from his nickname 'Dives' and the original meaning 'thick/fat').
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Crassus' primarily known as in modern English usage?