Apricus
/ˈæp.rɪ.kəs/noun
A Latin adjective meaning sunny, sun-exposed, or warmed by the sun, also used in English scientific and literary contexts.
Did you know?Latin authors used apricus for places sheltered from cold and richly exposed to sunlight, while the related English verb apricate means “to bask in the sun.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European (proposed)
PIE
*aper-
“To open or expose; a possible ancestral connection, though the derivation is disputed”
Archaic Latin
Latin
apricus
“Sunny, exposed to sunlight”
Classical Latin
Latin
aprīcus
“Bright with sun; sheltered from cold and open to warmth”
Classical Latin
Latin
aprīcārī
“To bask in the sun”
17th Century
English
apricate
“To bask or expose oneself to sunlight”
Modern English
English
apricus
“A rare scientific or literary term meaning sunny or sun-exposed”