gesta romanorum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/Low FrequencyAcademic / Literary / Historical
Quick answer
What does “gesta romanorum” mean?
A medieval Latin collection of stories and anecdotes, compiled for use by preachers, often with appended moral and allegorical interpretations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medieval Latin collection of stories and anecdotes, compiled for use by preachers, often with appended moral and allegorical interpretations.
A historically significant collection of folktales, legends, and fables of varied (but largely Eastern and Roman) origin, known for its influence on later European literature (e.g., Chaucer, Shakespeare). The title means 'Deeds of the Romans', though many stories are not Roman.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The term is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes medieval scholarship, literary history, and the tradition of exemplum literature in sermon writing.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse; encountered almost exclusively in academic contexts related to medieval literature, history, or theology.
Grammar
How to Use “gesta romanorum” in a Sentence
[The] Gesta Romanorum + verb (e.g., contains, relates, provides)A story/narrative/parable + from + Gesta RomanorumAccording to + Gesta RomanorumVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gesta romanorum” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This tale was gesta-romanorumed by the scribe, adding a moral conclusion.
- The preacher would often gesta romanorum his sermons with illustrative fables.
American English
- The narrative was clearly Gesta Romanorumed, complete with an allegorical gloss.
- He has a tendency to Gesta Romanorum his lectures with medieval exempla.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary studies, medieval history, and religious studies to refer to the source text and its influence.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a technical term in philology, manuscript studies, and comparative literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gesta romanorum”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gesta romanorum”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gesta romanorum”
- Pronouncing 'Gesta' with a hard 'G' (as in 'get') – it's a soft 'J' sound.
- Treating it as a common noun (e.g., 'a gesta romanorum'). It is always capitalised.
- Using it in plural form (Gesta Romanorums) – it is already a Latin plural genitive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is Latin. It translates as 'Deeds of the Romans', though the content is not exclusively Roman.
It was compiled in the late 13th or early 14th century, though stories were added and changed in later manuscripts.
Primarily by scholars, students of medieval literature, and those interested in the history of folklore and narrative. Popular editions exist for general readers interested in classic tales.
Most are not original to the compiler; they are drawn from classical, Eastern, and medieval European folklore, legend, and history, then adapted with Christian moralisations.
A medieval Latin collection of stories and anecdotes, compiled for use by preachers, often with appended moral and allegorical interpretations.
Gesta romanorum is usually academic / literary / historical in register.
Gesta romanorum: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒestə ˌrəʊməˈnɔːrəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɛstə ˌroʊməˈnɔːrəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None (it is a proper noun)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The GESTures of the ROMANs (Gesta Romanorum) told in old stories.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable as a proper noun. Conceptually, it is a WELLSPRING or REPOSITORY of stories.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary historical purpose of the Gesta Romanorum?