carcer
From Proto-Italic *karkros, from Proto-Indo-European *kr-kr- (“circular”), reduplication of *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”) in the sense of "enclosure", and as such a doublet of cancer. Cognate with circus, curvus, crux, crīnis, crispus, English ring. It is not known how the noun shifted to the third declension.
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /ˈkar.ker/, [ˈkärkɛr]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈkar.t͡ʃer/, [ˈkärt͡ʃer]
Noun
carcer m (genitive carceris); third declension
- prison, jail [ synonyms ▲]
- Synonyms: tenebrae, (Mediaeval) carcellāria
- jailbird
- traps (barriers at start of a horse race)
- commencement, beginning
- starting gate
- Ad carceres a calce revocari.
- To be called back from the finish line to the starting gates.
Declension
Third-declension noun.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | carcer | carcerēs |
| Genitive | carceris | carcerum |
| Dative | carcerī | carceribus |
| Accusative | carcerem | carcerēs |
| Ablative | carcere | carceribus |
| Vocative | carcer | carcerēs |