Ursus
/ˈɜːr.səs/noun
A Latin word meaning 'bear,' also used as a personal name and in scientific terms.
Did you know?Ursus is the Latin source behind the starry bear names Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, and it helped shape dozens of modern scientific words that quietly carry the bear’s ancient power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ŕ̥tḱos
“bear”
Proto-Italic
PI
*arktos / *h₂ŕ̥tḱos
“bear”
Old Latin
Latin
ursus
“bear”
Classical Latin
Latin
ursus
“bear”
Modern English
English
ursus
“a bear, especially in scientific or literary usage”