Orcus
/ˈɔːr.kəs/noun
In Roman mythology, the underworld god or the underworld itself; in later use, a demon or ogre-like being.
Did you know?Orcus is tied to a deeply ancient Indo-European underworld root, and its name later helped shape the modern fantasy image of a brutish demon or ogre.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃órkʷos
“A possible ancient underworld or oath-related figure/root, reconstructed with uncertainty.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
Orcus
“The Roman god of the underworld and the underworld realm itself.”
Classical Latin
Latin
orcus
“The underworld, death, or the punishing power of the dead.”
Late Latin
Latin
orcus
“A demon, ogre, or monstrous being in popular usage.”
Old French
Old French
orque
“An ogre or monstrous creature.”
Modern English
English
orc
“A monstrous humanoid creature in fantasy literature.”